Where e-government and e-business compete

Employment services: The Labor Department runs America's Job Bank, which

posts 1.5 million jobs for free. Private employment firms offer similar

services.

Coin sales: The U.S. Mint became a major competitor in the collectible

coin and jewelry business in 1999 when it began selling such products online.

Population trends: The Census Bureau provides increasingly detailed

information on the U.S. population, from income to lifestyle habits, competing

with marketing analysts.

Financial news: The Securities and Exchange Commission's fast electronic

posting of corporate financial filings directly competes with commercial

publishers.

Electronic bill paying: The U.S. Postal Service joined financial services

companies this spring by offering bill consolidation and payment services

for a fee.

Tax filing: The IRS has discussed offering electronic tax preparation

services to encourage more taxpayers to file online, which would directly

compete with commercial tax preparers.

Sources: FCW and "The Role of Government in a Digital Age"