"Knowledge societies" are cultures that are economically and culturally defined by a heavy reliance on their ability to generate scientific and technical knowledge. Knowledge is becoming a valuable commodity in the market and a product to sell. As a result, scientists and engineers are starting to focus less on what they know and more on how much they can earn doing so. This description was first coined by British economist Richard Freeman in his book The Creation of Wealth: How Society Creates Value and Why Some People Are Gifted More Than Others (McGraw-Hill, 1997). Freeman argued that in a knowledge-based economy, wealth is created not only by people's labor but also by their ideas. He claimed that all forms of intellectual property - including software programs, mathematical theories, and discoveries - have economic value and can be sold or licensed. By focusing on their intellectual capacities, scientists and engineers can become wealthy without necessarily having to work for a company or government agency. In addition to selling their ideas, today's scientists and engineers are also in demand as a source of knowledge. They often receive compensation for consulting services or teaching at universities and research centers. Many also choose to enter the private sector where their skills can be used to develop new products or processes.