The country analyses contain information on payment cultures, national frameworks for banking and financial services, payment cards, electronic purses, Internet payment systems and electronic commerce in each of the countries. For the purposes of the report, analysis of electronic commerce is restricted to the business to consumer (B:C) segment. The country chapters are followed by a discussion of the issues raised across the countries. The final section presents a summary of the most important findings of the study.
The report reveals vast national differences and peculiarities which will have great impact on the spread of electronic payment systems and electronic commerce in the individual countries. It also shows that use of electronic money is only at the experimental stage and that traditional national "access products" are finding use on the Internet for domestic transactions. While Internet commerce at the national level is growing impressively, trans-border commerce is only just starting. Here, there will be a demand for a uniform and unambiguous framework, especially with respect to legal aspects. In addition an infrastructure is required enabling interoperability of a broad range of existing and emerging payment methods.