It is generally accepted that we are moving (quickly) into "the information economy".

My concern is this - just what does the "information economy" produce? ... that people/companies will pay the big bucks for? Also, just how much of the information economy's "work" is actaully going to be done in the western world (as opposed to China, India, etc.)?

I just don't see the information economy as "real". It's a beautiful concept, and I think we all have been hopeful that it *is* real. But the more I think about it, it's just a name. It actually seems to have little in the way of tangible saleable "product".

Regarding your sidenote. It is an interesting question.
From about 1996 until March of this year I strictly telecommuted (visiting an office at most once per week, for just a fw hours). I nver thught of moving to the countryside, but I guess many will as the trend grows fast and soon.

cheer

>>I agree that NAFTA did cause a "sucking sound as things moved south", but not the GREAT sucking sound Ross Perot claimed.
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>>But that's only because China stepped in ("Socialism with Chinese Characteristics") and WalMart and manufacturers went gung-ho.
>>They couldn't resist a FULLY-controlled workforce with extremely low wages and tolerance for even poorer working conditions. They couldn't resist that Chinese Pary members retained ownership of factories and signed contrcts for work to be done.
>>There are 64,000,000 Party Members in China, all benefitting from this boom. Thats a huge market of wel-monied people. The other 1BILLION+ people do what they're told and are told to smile while they do it.
>>
>>SO it's not NAFTA. The answer to "why?" is greed. Corporate greed and political (U.S. Congress) greed. And it ain't gonna stop until there is no more manufacturing (except posibly defense stuff) in the U.S. Currently, about 10% of jobs in the U.S. are manufturing. Not long ago it ws much higher.
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>Not long ago this country was 50% farmers. Times change and people change with them. Farming gave way to the industrial revolution, which is giving way to the information revolution. We find ourselves in the very early stages of the future economy.
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>SET SIDENOTE ON
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>I think it will be interesting to see what happens to the structure of cities. The industrial revolution led to a large movement of people from rural areas to urban centers. I wonder if technological advancement in the information age will lead to a reversal of that trend.
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>SET SIDENOTE OFF
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>>>The economy is down because we have lost our manufacturing base to other countries. Thank you NAFTA, and both Bushes, as well as Bill Clinton for betraying your country economically. It also doesn't help to have the Commander-in-Chief spending like a drunken sailor on payday.
>>>
>>>So, the above begs a question to be asked: Why?