The Global Course of the Information Revolution

Advances in information technology are heavily influencing ways in which business, society, and government work and function throughout the globe, bringing many changes to everyday life, in a process commonly termed the "information revolution." This book paints a picture of the state of the information revolution today — in its technological, business and financial, governmental, and social and cultural dimensions — and how it will likely progress in the near- to mid-term future (10 to 15 years). It focuses separately on different regions of the world-North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. In addition to these regional variations and projections, the authors look in depth at recurring themes in information technology's impact around the world, including, for example, its influence on business models and its relationship with social and cultural value systems. The research presented by the authors is the result of a multiyear, multidisciplinary effort of RAND and the National Intelligence Council.