Growth of the Digital Economy

As pointed out in the previous chapter, the concepts ‘digital economy’, ‘information economy’, ‘information society’ and ‘knowledge society/economy’ are inextricably intertwined and are often used interchangeably. However, the concept ‘information society’ is increasingly being seen as a unifying term. In defence of why this is so, Schienstock et al. (1999) have argued that the notion of an ‘information society’ is presented as a strategic aim meant to overcome current social stagnation. The central argument is that the information society would create and secure millions of new jobs; guarantee economic competitiveness; bring ecological advantages; intensify democracy; and revolutionize our ways of living and working with the help of new communication technologies.