Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy (BRIE)
2234 Piedmont Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94720-2322
510-642-3067
Fax: 510-643-6617

Papers and Presentations and an Analytical Summary and Report Now Available Online!

The purpose of this conference is to frame an international dialogue on corporate strategy and public policy in the common construction of the digital economy. Until recently, American firms have led in the creation of the enabling technologies for digital networks and e-commerce applications, thereby setting the terms of global competition and the accompanying policy agenda. Now, both market and policy leadership are challenged as new technologies and uses, and new approaches to cyber-governance, emerge abroad. Are we witnessing convergence on a common model, or will the architecture of the digital economy evolve along different national or regional trajectories? This program will explore the range of those international differences and assess their implications for business strategy and government policy.

Session I explores whether there are significant differences emerging in digital networks among OECD countries, and how they might generate different regional and national patterns of economic activity. A key question is whether those differences will have competitive implications for trade relations between the U.S. and other parts of the world. The session looks across national borders and sectors to explore differences in enabling technologies, infrastructure provision and e-commerce applications.

Session II considers the most important legal and regulatory issues raised by the emerging digital economy, areas of domestic and international conflict over these issues, and how to best avoid the emergence of rival national E-conomies with conflicting standards. Each national or regional e-conomy must establish rules to construct its digital marketplace; involving issues such a intellectual property rights, protection of privacy, security, competition and taxation. At the same time, the multitude of E-conomies must be interconnected, whether through common harmonized rules, compatible standards, or some combination thereof.

Sponsored by The University of California E-conomy Project™, this conference will add an international dimension to the May 25-26 conference on "Understanding the Digital Economy," sponsored by the U.S. Government Working Group on Electronic Commerce, the National Economic Council, the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Department of Commerce and the National Science Foundation. The two events are scheduled to encourage joint participation.

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