The impact of the Internet economy

The Internet is making web activity more efficient, faster, and cheaper, and extending social interaction in unparalleled ways. Increasingly, the largest turnover gains for companies come from using online networks in some form.

The Internet has also brought unprecedented user and consumer empowerment as well as opportunities for new innovative and social activities. Individuals have broader access to information, which makes comparisons easier and creates downward pressure on prices. Internet users are extremely active, creating new content themselves and interacting in new ways.

The Internet is quickly permeating all economic and social areas, and most public policy areas. For instance, e-government has become the prime tool for supporting government services and interaction with citizens and companies. Healthcare systems are increasingly making use of the Internet and online networks to increase affordability, efficiency and quality, through digital patient files, remote patient observation and healthcare delivery, along with improved diagnostics and imaging technologies. School performance is found to be correlated with home access to computers. Moreover, green technologies based on the Net in real estate and transport systems and alternative power generating systems can help get a grip on climate change and improve energy efficiency.

The impact of the Internet is inherently global; helping to create closer integration of our economies and societies. Apart from that, as the Web expands even more it can help the economic and social development of people of all countries.