Can the European Union as a whole compete effectively with the United States, Canada, and Japan in the development of e-business? Does it make its economy competitive? One of the missions undertaken by the European Commission is to monitor, analyze, and compare the development of e-business in the European economy. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to base all research on a uniform methodology, similar sources of information, and directions of inference.
Most of the Commission’s research usually focuses on the economic sectors of individual Union countries. In 2005, however, a comparative analysis was conducted for the first time for several large economies in the world. Its goal was to assess how the advancement of modern
technologies in Europe compares to other economic powers. For comparative purposes, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and the United States were selected. The point was not only the importance of these countries in the global economy but also different parts of the world, as well as access to analogous data and information. Furthermore, they were treated as the main economic
competitors. The main sources of information were national statistical offices and empirical
studies, conducted mainly using questionnaires sent
by mail. In Europe, the main source of information was Eurostat, which is gradually building a uniform statistical system based on analogous data from individual European countries. It also conducts ad hoc empirical studies, including on the use of ICT in enterprises. In Europe, the main research method is interviews conducted via telephone and computer (CATI method), while, for example, in Australia – conducted via e-mail and the Internet (CASI). The calculation unit was full-time employment of employees in enterprises. Reliability of statistical data Despite great care in the selection of sources, in the construction of the questionnaire, and in the stratification of enterprises, various deviations could have crept into the adopted
methodology. The definition of e-commerce was adopted according to the OECD, however, in Australia, Canada, and the EU, it was expanded to include certain national characteristics. Industry classifications were adopted according to those in force in a given country. Data collection methods were also not identical. Eurostat, however, performed
many necessary calculations and estimates to increase the probability of the obtained results. However, this study should be treated as a pilot, serving for verification in further ones. It provided a broad perspective for assessing e-business in the world, a holistic view of the merging of modern technologies with the economy, and finally, conclusions regarding the desired directions of stimulation. The samples were large: in Europe from 1,000 to 30,000 in individual countries, in Canada approx. 17,000,
in Australia approx. 9,000, in Japan approx. 35,600, in South Korea approx. 2,500, and in the USA approx. 129,500.
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