The rapid pace of technological change and the global nature of markets have confronted governments and especially businesses with an "adapt or die" scenario. Particularly in developing countries, to fall behind in technology and innovation could increase the gap with wealthier, more advanced economies.

Conversely, e-commerce presents unique opportunities for less developed countries to greatly expand their markets, both internally and externally. Externally, the Internet and other technologies may allow for low-cost international trade, even for small, local businesses. Internally, many groups of citizens who had been considered "marginalized" and "unbanked" may gain affordable access to financial services, and may thus participate more readily in all aspects of the economy.

E-commerce technologies carry the potential to reshape the very structure of the national landscape. Central business districts may become less relevant, as companies and workers can conduct business with equal effectiveness from almost any location. Rural areas considered too costly or unprofitable for business development might increasingly become a focus for investment and market expansion, and also for relocating corporate offices.

Social Impacts

Some of the intangible downside risks of increasingly "virtual" interaction within rural community include the possible "de-socialization" of individuals who have less and less direct contact with their peers, their co-workers, their community. This can extend to family relations as well, particularly if technology creates further imbalances between those who are "on-line", and those without access to these technologies. On the other hand, equitable deployment of infrastructure and educational resources could provide a means of maintaining and expanding family and communal ties that would otherwise be broken by distance and cost.

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* Contributed by: -
Sambit Kumar Mishra & Ashok Kumar Chandra,
Ph.D. Scholars,
Institute of Management,
Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur.