Internet Technology Spells The End Of Capitalism?
I have always been a believer of free markets, the essence of capitalism. As a consultant and project manager, I have helped apply internet technology to make better logistics and distribution systems to move things better, cheaper, faster.
The capitalist era may now be over in favor of a Gift Economy where relationships are key, not things. David Pollard says that the Gift Economy is an economic system where “Distribution is not king. Content is not king. Conversation is the kingdom. … Gift Economy world of the empowered and connected individual, the value is no longer in maintaining an exclusive hold on things. The value is no longer in owning content or distribution. The value is in relationships.”
This Gift Economy concept makes some sense when you think about open source code such as the free Linux operating system and free software and services such as Netscape Explorer and Skype digital phone service. These free products and services shared via internet technology in many ways undermine capitalism, but at the same time bring wealth to society as a whole and the individuals and companies that provide the free products and services. By giving away software and services, individuals and companies build relationships. Relationships become the new wealth in the Gift Economy. A key component of this Gift Economy is that each relationship gives and does not hoard. Thus the more relationships you have the more wealth you have.
The new Gift Economy affects news organizations where blogs, individuals, and web sites are sharing information with each other through relations versus via mass distribution. This information-relationship environment provides a more rich, interactive, personalized environment versus the mass media environment that dulls your senses and controls the information that is provided to you. Read How To Save The World posting Blogs and the Gift Economy as Disruptive Innovations for more information on the Gift Economy and how blogs are affecting mass media and even the economy.
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