Barry, re: "''Imagine,'' Gates tells Carroll, ''that information was just totally available. All the information you wanted about what is going on with customers, the market, resources, and possible partnerships was totally available to you. In 10 years, you'll just take it for granted.''
It's interesting to consider this in light of Greenspans comment over the weekend about the possibility (threat?) of DEflation. When: "All the information you wanted about what is going on with customers, the market, resources, and possible partnerships was totally available to you", what does that do to pricing power for all product and service categories? As an example, what happens when a manufacturer can immediatly access component prices from hundreds or thousand of potential vendors for a specific part? What happens when a consumer can access prices from thousands of auto dealers for a specific automobile?
Just some thoughts. Is it possible the information age has created major efficencies in doing business, and that it has led to the current high employment/low inflation situation? If it continues, could it lead to a deflatioary situation that is ultimatly harmful to the economy? I don't have the answers, we seem to be in uncharted waters.
John |
