Innovation, Government and Networks

Abstract

Innovation is the engine of the global economy. New products and new processes for getting things done have transformed consumer societies, altered the technology of war, and laid siege to the traditional world. The digital revolution has already delivered remarkable changes in entertainment, communication and information management. Email, the World Wide Web and the new cyberspace have altered forever what can be achieved through interpersonal communication. And equally true is the disparity and inequality in access to these powerful new resources both within countries and between them. So while titanic and mesmerizing, innovation cannot be value free. Even the most widely available improvements come at a cost and are distributed unevenly, whether by market or state.