Very good point.

I think the point on corruption and the rule of law is really significant. It goes beyond just e-commerce and into a whole economy. A government of men and not of law does not make for a thriving economy. If found these two maps on corruption and governance really interesting. They really speak to they trouble with doing e-commerce in Africa:

Transparency International: http://www.transparency.org/policy_research/surveys_indices/...

Governance: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worldwide_Governance_Indicators

I wonder how ratings for China / India / Brazil will change in the next few decades as their per-capita GDP increases.