The Global Course of the Information Revolution: Political, Economic, and Social Consequences (Documented Briefing)

RAND has embarked on a three-year effort, sponsored by the National Intelligence Council's Strategic Estimates Program, to chart the course of changes brought about by the information revolution over the next 10 to 20 years. As a first step, RAND convened in November 1999 an international conference on political/governmental, business/financial, and social/cultural trends. Across the diverse conference discussions, a shared vision emerged of an information revolution future of more "information work" and new business models, an increase in electronic commerce, challenges to the nation state, creation of a number of sub-, trans-, and supranational groupings, more porous borders, and new fault lines within and between nations. The world can expect increasing disparities (winners and losers), concerns about privacy, and effects on national cultures.