THE DIFFERENCE OF E-COMMERCE BETWEEN CHINA AND USA: FROM A PERSPECTIVE OF TRANSACTION COST

摘要

E-commerce in China and USA almost synchronously initiated. However, nowadays the differences of e-commerce between the two countries are larger. In this paper, we try to find out what brings about the differences of e-commerce between the two countries. We consider the contracting process of e-commerce and analyze ex ante,ongoing and ex post transaction cost of e-commerce contract. The conclusion is that the differences in economy and institution between China and USA result in the differences of transaction cost,which make for the differences in status quo of e-commerce between the two countries.