In this way Webster distinguishes between different epochs of capitalism: laissez-faire capitalism of the 19th century, corporate capitalism in the 20th century, and informational capitalism for the 21st century (Webster 2006).
Tovrstne domneve naj bi imele ideološki značaj, saj sodijo v okvir, ki pravi, da ne moremo storiti nič glede spremembe in moramo sprejeti obstoječe politične realnosti (Webster 2002b: 267).