International Trade at the Speed of Light: Building an Electronic Trading Infrastructure in Denmark, Finland and Hong Kong

In this paper, we analyze the creation of electronic trading infrastructures using Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) standards and associated technologies. We compare the evolution of such infrastructures in Denmark, Finland, and Hong Kong. We analyze attempts to build trading infrastructures in these three countries by examining eight initiatives. We probe how these initiatives support the building efforts by locating the eight initiatives into a two dimensional framework, which distinguishes between the strategic intent of the initiative and the type of initiator. In each case, we examine the dynamics of each initiative and its success. Our analysis shows that the building of trading infrastructures can take place through multiple paths—in this study called patterns—and it can be “pulled” or “pushed” by multiple forces. As a result, we can draw conclusions about how each pattern can help in building the infrastructure. The analysis demonstrates that the trading infrastructure in Hong Kong

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