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Abstract Labour markets are thought to be in the midst of a dramatic transformation, where standard employment is increasingly supplemented or substituted by temporary work mediated by online platforms. Yet the scale and scope of these changes is hard to assess, because conventional labour market statistics and economic indicators are ill-suited to measuring this "online gig work". We present the Online Labour Index (OLI), an experimental economic indicator that approximates the conventional labour market statistic of new open vacancies. It measures the utilization of online labour across countries and occupations by tracking the number of projects and tasks posted on major online gig platforms in near-real time. The purpose of this article is to introduce the OLI and describe the methodology behind it. We also demonstrate how it can be used to address previously unanswered questions about the online gig economy. To benefit policymakers, labour market researchers and the general public, our results are published in an interactive online visualisation which is updated daily. Highlights • We present the Online Labour Index (OLI), a new economic indicator • The OLI tracks the number of projects and tasks posted on the major online labour platforms in near real time • We find that the demand for online gigwork has increased by roughly 20 percent year on year • The majority of jobs are in technology, followed by graphic design and writing • Roughly half of the labour demand originates from the United States • Our results are published in an interactive online visualisation which is updated daily [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New IT technologies have generated changes in the economic and social system, and the rapidity with which countries adopt these technologies is essential for increasing economic and social competitiveness in the future. Thus, the measuring of ITC technologies integration in the economy and society is essential, and at the level of the EU-28 countries there is a Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) that shows how a country evolves digitally compared to others. The 2017 report shows significant disparities within the EU28 regarding digitization. Although Romania ranks 2nd in the EU28 for high-speed broadband subscriptions, it is ranked the last in the EU28 from the point of view of Internet usage. In this paper, we will limit to identifying the regions in Romania with the highest percentages of Internet usage and commenting on the main causes underpinning the regional gaps. The research method used was cluster analysis that identified 3 clusters in terms of Internet usage. The data source was Eurostat. The paper have 5 sections: the first two sections describe importance of ITC tehnologies in society and the conceptual framework of the DESI, the following two sections present the empirical results of the detailed explorative analysis regarding use of Internet for the EU28 countries, with accent on Romania, the methods applied, research hypothesis, variables and statistical data used in this paper and finally there are conclusions with main results of study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Internet economy, with the help of cryptography, a branch of mathematics dealing with the security of information, as well as authentication and restriction of access to a computer system, a new digital coin as an alternative to national currencies appeared. In accomplishing this, using both mathematical methods (taking advantage of, for example, the difficulty of factorizing very large numbers), and quantum encryption methods. Throughout the world, information technology companies are focusing on information protection, inventing day-to-day methods with greater durability. In the horizon of Information Security, Quantum Cryptography has emerged, generating new possibilities in that field, hoping that data will be better protected and that the digital currency will resist over time and eventually evolve in the future, although Kurzweil, Bitcoin's pioneering technology is unlikely to be used in this respect. The idea of virtual alternatives to national currencies is not new, with advantages and disadvantages. The advantages of this coin are high payment freedom, transparency of information, high security, reduced risks for traders. Among the disadvantages we highlight the risk and volatility, the lack of notification and understanding, with incomplete functions, but which are developing, so Bitcoin is not perfect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) in the digital economy is a challenge for companies that operate in the new electronic environment. In fact, companies that use the internet as basic infrastructure for their operations must adapt and to be ready to respond to the growing challenges who are posed from more sophisticated consumers. CRM concept includes possibilities, methodology and technology that enable companies to operate through improving relations with consumers. CRM as a strategic set of activities begins with a detailed analysis of organizational strategy and ending with measurement of value for stakeholders. CRM owes its expansion to the emergence of the Internet. Digital economy enables more effective targeting and personalization. The basic motive for the research is the fact that e-CRM is a relatively new concept and in recent years has made significant strides in companies around the world aimed at customers. Namely, e-CRM is positioned high on the priority list of today's corporate agendas. The aim of this paper is to consider the importance and benefits of the implementation of e-CRM concept in Macedonia, and to determine the factors that contribute to its successful implementation. The research results should contribute to increasing the profitability and competitiveness of Macedonian companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a review of advertising market segmentation per media, this article explains the Internet's emergence as a powerful advertising support, building on network externalities and "winner takes all" effects. The combined forces of advertising programming and "big data" are now pushing Internet advertising toward new frontiers by valuing individual data and social graphs, as the two offer a maximum coverage of potential consumers even on the smallest market niches. It is the key to conquering advertisers. For this reason, individual data and social interrelations are the Holy Grail for companies selling advertising space on the Internet. The race to collect, store and handle data is on. Because of increasing returns, only big firms can compete on the "big data" market. This explains why the worldwide market of Internet advertising is highly concentrated and why this concentration is increasing. The article finishes with how these points impact the advertising market and could impact media content dependent on advertising revenues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread prevalence of the Internet has led to the increasing dependence of customers on online travel agencies (OTAs) in their making purchasing decisions. OTAs that aim to increase market share and obtain higher profits need to find ways of maintaining loyal customers and at the same time attracting new ones. This study examines customer loyalty from the perspective of online engagement investment of OTAs. Although many studies in the marketing literature have described the influence of customer engagement on customer loyalty, the majority of these studies rely on theoretical conceptual frameworks or empirical research, and do not provide any solutions for optimizing engagement investment. Thus, in this study, we examined how OTAs make investment decisions with regard to encouraging online engagement of customers. In addition, we analyzed the market evolution and game equilibrium of a given online travel market with respect to the results of the optimal decisions. We believe that the findings of this study have important implications for e-commerce researchers and practitioners, particularly for operators of OTAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a gravity model framework, this paper examines the relationship between bilateral trade and the degree of Internet adoption in an economy. The study distinguishes between agricultural and non-agricultural commodities while analyzing the effect of the Internet adoption on bilateral exports. The study uses panel data from 2006 to 2010 and uses the fixed-effects method to estimate the gravity equation. Moreover, to correct for the sample selection bias arising from missing trade values, this study uses the Heckman sample selection method. The results suggest that a higher degree of internet adoption stimulates both agricultural and non-agricultural exports, though the impact is stronger for non-agricultural commodities. Furthermore, the study found the degree of Internet adoption in the exporting country to have a more prominent effect than the degree of Internet adoption in the importing country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major objective of this study is to examine the impact of internet usage on economic growth of South Asian countries with particular reference to Pakistan. The annual time series data of four Asian countries from 1995 - 2013 were used. With technology advancement, Internet has becoming an important source to disseminate knowledge. For this purpose ARDL approach was used. The results show that both capital and labor have positive impact on economic growth of Pakistan in the long run. The internet usage has also a positive long run impact on economic growth. However, the use of internet needs to be further effectively made so that it can exert a significant effect on the economic growth of the country. Although, the results of the study may not be generalized as the study is based on not a large sample due to unavailability of time series data on some variables, but the study provides a new avenue for other researcher as this study has got important implications for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study the researchers aim to assess and investigate the risks and opportunities of using social-networking sites (SNS) in workplace/communities, especially in Australia and Portugal. An online survey was conducted of 80 employees from both large organisations and SMEs in Australia and Portugal to determine these risks and opportunities. The study outcomes indicated that SNS usage in businesses is very useful, convenient, and fast and provides a real-time environment for marketing, communication and collaboration, enhancing employees' knowledge and skills and improving communication between customers and stakeholders. However, SNS usage in businesses can lead to legal issues or loss of reputation, security, privacy, hacking to identify theft, and virus attacks. The current study ascertains new practical significance, as a set of recommendations were generated to minimise and reduce the risks of using SNS in the workplace and to meet employees' needs and expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper develops an identification strategy to generate unbiased estimates of Internet usage spillovers using a unique data set of US households. This strategy addresses the effects of variables that affect consumers'' decisions but are unobservable to the researcher that lead to biased estimates. The estimator developed here examines changes in household behavior over time and uses county level instrumental variables for county level spillover measures. Multiple potential sources of learning are identified including those from the household''s locality, from educational Internet subsidies, and from universities. There is general support for all sources, but the locality and subsidy results are both more robust and larger. These findings directly address the policy relevance of these spillover sources and they have implications for policies to encourage Internet use as well as for identification strategies for the effects of the Internet on behavior. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Futuribles is the property of Futuribles SARL and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The chapter covers generic forces of change as well as those specific to e-commerce and c-business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The number of Internet auction shoppers is rapidly growing. However, online auction customers may suffer from auction fraud, sometimes without even noticing it. In-auction fraud differs from pre- and post-auction fraud in that it happens in the bidding period of an active auction. Since the in-auction fraud strategies are subtle and complex, it makes the fraudulent behavior more difficult to discover. Researchers from disciplines such as computer science and economics have proposed a number of methods to deal with in-auction fraud. In this paper, we summarize commonly seen indicators of in-auction fraud, provide a review of significant contributions in the literature of Internet in-auction fraud, and identify future challenging research tasks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article overviews the contribution of the Internet and broadband communications system to the economic development and governments' policies and guiding rules on broadband communications. It discusses the importance of broadband communications systems to the economy and explains how policy makers should frame their policies on broadband networks and Internet access. It also provides considerations on the availability of broadband networks, integrity of Net access and sufficiency of Net capacity. Further, it offers prospects on the policy solutions for best broadband infrastructures to have optimal Internet access.

The progress of the informatics and communication technology, especially the development of the Internet infrastructure, make possible the complete electronical and even partially automatized support of the business field. If an electronic market is suplimentary used as a meeting place for the offerors and customers, it is an indirect form of e-commerce. In the case of the totally electronic commerce (direct electronic commerce), the goods to be sold are exposed to the public, are digitalised. These goods can be directly distributed via the Internet.The role of the e-commerce is that of a mediator among the producers, distribution networks, other facilitators and the consumers.The e-commerce can contribute to the diminishing of a certain offeror's costs by a series of mechanisms, thus it can increase the capacity of competitionof a firm.Using the Internet there can be done comparisons and price analyses, while the costs for the changing of an offeror who has more attractive prices are more diminished. As it can be noticed according to the eProcurement development, the increases of the efficiency can be obtained by diminishing the aquisition costs. Important costs are to be seen in the development of the sale process, as well as in the marketing sector.The Internet technology offers various possibilities of saving money. Advertising is easy to be accessed today, so that the clients may benefit of information immediately, while the offeror saves money with multiplication and dispatch [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Many consumers consult online reviews before making (online) travel arrangements. Yet, little is known about the impact of these reviews on consumer decision making. This research applies consideration set theory to model the impact of online hotel reviews on consumer choice. An experimental study (N =168) that includes review valence (positive vs. negative reviews), hotel familiarity (well-known vs. lesser-known hotels), and reviewer expertise (expert vs. non-expert reviewers) as independent factors shows that on average, exposure to online reviews enhances hotel consideration in consumers. This is because positive as well as negative reviews increase consumer awareness of hotels, whereas positive reviews, in addition, improve attitudes toward hotels. These effects are stronger for lesser-known hotels. Reviewer expertise has only a minor – positive – influence on review impact. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The evolution of the Internet is affecting many nations around the world and forcing changes to business and socioeconomic development plans. It has major implications for the realization of the concept of globalization. The Arab world as developing countries with an economy in transition, has been investing in building its communications infrastructure and adopting the use of the Internet since 1995 as a vital tool for development. This paper will provide a deeper understanding of the key issues surrounding the Internet use in the Arab world with a focus on the challenges faced that relate to a number of social, technological, financial and legal issues. There are a number of suggested solutions and recommendations having to do with collaboration between the governments and the private sectors in each country and between the specialized institutions within the Arabian countries to diffuse the use of the Internet in the Arab world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Documentaliste: Sciences de l'Information is the property of ADBS and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The constant development in technology, communication and particularly the Internet, has revolutionized the entire tourism industry, by generating new business models, restructuring the distribution channels, reshaping the production process involved in tourism industry and last but not least has influenced the suppliers of touristic services as well as the stakeholders. In this work I have tried to enhance the implications of electronic tourism for the visitors, the tourism operators, highlighting the informational systems which serve the touristic services. E-tourism comes to support the tourists by providing specialized sites and software which reduce the time necessary for the touristic destinations , making easier the process of booking or renting a car or help planning the trip and making a decision. One of the most common problems associated with the developing distribution is the large amount of information available for the client and to be able to explore it, I have presented intelligent agents with all the advantages this new artificial technology brings along. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Economia e Administração is the property of INSPER Instituto de Ensino e Pesquisa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research explores the effect of eBusiness on customer satisfaction. It identifies elements of customer satisfaction that prior research has shown to be important. Then, using two case studies in financial institutions, it shows how eBusiness affects each of these elements. All elements were involved in providing information to the customer and in the way it was provided. Of the ten elements investigated, some are shown to have a positive and direct effect on customer satisfaction. Yet, as seen in the literature, some of the elements can potentially, have a negative impact. The company had to prevent those from having an effect. In short, eBusiness can improve customer satisfaction, but many measures have to be taken when using it. In each initiative, clear goals should be defined, every aspect of customer satisfaction must be investigated carefully, strong attention must be paid to the aspects of eBusiness that can detract from customer satisfaction, and the 'traditional' ways of satisfying customers should always be kept in mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Internet appears to be playing a role in the re-structuring of some traditional business sectors in which some organisations profit and some decline. Travel agencies are being subjected to increased competition from virtual on-line travel agencies. These agencies do not possess the traditional retail outlets but exist predominantly on the Web. In addition, airline companies and travel wholesalers are beginning to market their products directly to the consumer. Despite the threat of disintermediation, the Internet has created opportunities for the travel agency by aiding in providing service to anybody anytime from anywhere. The study presented in the paper is based upon three separate pieces of research on the Australian travel agency sector and provides a macro and micro level view. Together the three research projects provide an in-depth study of key issues related to the travel agency sector. A survey of owners/managers of travel agencies provides information on the diffusion of Web technology and the levels of planning and strategies used by travel agencies when investigating the use of the Web. The second study provides an analysis of travel agency Web sites. The third study reports the results of a survey of travel consultants and their views on the likely impact of the Web on their profession and career prospects. The findings highlight that a significant number of travel agencies have adopted the use of the WWW but most only use a fraction of its business potential. The lack of enterprise-wide strategic planning being conducted by travel agencies suggests that they are underestimating the potential of Web based commerce. The results of the analysis of Web sites found that the majority of agencies had a Yellow Pages or Cyber Brochure model for their Web site. A small percentage of Web sites allowed transactions to be performed but a significant number provided information on a range of destination and service related topics. Many travel consultants believe that the Internet wilt not have a profound influence on their job position. Seventy three percent of travel consultants have not even visited a virtual travel agency Web site. Staff are often pessimistic in relation to their own careers with many admitting that they are not prepared for the changes taking place. Whilst the pessimists forecast a very bleak outlook for travel agencies, those that do re-engineer with a new vision and strategy have the opportunity to be amongst the leaders in the sector. Focusing on becoming information service providers is one option that travel agents can take. However, given the rapid rate of change in electronic commerce and the varying patterns of adoption, it is still not clear how severe the shake out of this important industry sector will be. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the need for internet marketing for today's companies, with a focus on the building of reputation in the internet. Topics mentioned in the article include investments in internet marketing, social media influence on the consumer, and some internet marketing failures such as the creation of a new logo for the clothing store GAP.

This article presents information related to the energy consumption of Internet users. It is suggested that a character on the Internet game "Second Life" uses the same amount of energy per year as a citizen of Brazil. The implications of this statistic are discussed along with predictions for the future energy usage of the Internet.