The spread of information technology is changing the economy, but also challenging traditional notions of social equality, ethics, sovereignty, and cultural expression. Studies show that the use of innovative technologies contributes to productivity growth and tends to increase employment and wages. However, adaptation to technological change has distributional effects, with benefits not evenly accruing to different firms and individuals.
Technology also affects culture and social cohesion.
Traditional ideas about the nation-state are constantly being challenged by flows of ideas and cultural products. Similarly, technology raises a number of ethical concerns. Advances may be seen to outweigh the benefits. For example, new reproductive and genetic technologies are raising ethical issues about how advances in knowledge should be used. Return to the Mega Trends main page.