Many who freely give their credit card number over the telephone refuse to launch it into cyberspace. They worry about confidentiality, about legal recourse in the event of defective products, nondelivery of goods and the like. The OECD takes these questions very seriously. It works closely with businesses and civil society groups from developed and emerging markets, in an attempt to find solutions. Not everyone agrees with everyone else on how to go forward.
Governments have yet to agree on some aspects of e commerce taxation, for instance.
But e-commerce is a marvelous thing. And while it may be suffering from hype today, I see it as a harbinger of the reality of tomorrow. The writer is secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. This comment was adapted by the International Herald Tribune from an article in the OECD Observer .