When we enter the next century, human society is beginning to move from industrial economy to knowledge economy. The general trend is that 2 1 century will be a new era of knowledge economy. As I mentioned in my last article, the most striking feature of this new era of knowledge economy is information-driven economic growth and globalization. This paper will discuss the information aspect of knowledge economy.
More specifically, the best example of the application of information in economy is the networking of communication, or the so-called network economy. This network refers to the computer network connecting the world by satellites, optical fibers, cables and telephone lines. With a click of the mouse, information from the other side of the earth will be transmitted to your computer screen at an amazing speed of seven and a half times around the earth every second.
Singapore started early in networking. If we deposit a sum of money in one POSB branch, we can withdraw money from other POSB branches. This is the early stage of networking. The future network will have greater significance and influence.
Generally speaking, the web has two aspects. One is the network between enterprises and customers. The other is networking among individual enterprises, or regional or even global networking between industrial production and scientific research. Examples of POSB and online shopping belong to the first aspect.
In the long run, online shopping is only a low-level aspect of the network, and it can't be the most important trend. After all, most goods are not suitable for online shopping. Besides, if everyone shops online, what will happen to our orchard road? Or Broadway in new york? A friend said that if he forced his daughter to shop online instead of letting her shop on Orchard Road, her daughter would rather commit suicide.
Therefore, the second aspect of the network will be more important. It means more than just connecting business. It is reported that doctors from all over the world consult, operate online and cooperate in research and development through the Internet at the same time. These are early examples of high-level networks.
The president of Intel Corporation, the manufacturer of Pentium microprocessors, believes that the new synergy between computer and network technology will have many influences on the future industry. The great power of e-commerce will greatly change the face of trade. Puma, a sporting goods company, was on the verge of bankruptcy in 1992. Starting from 1993, Puma began to distribute its production, logistics and marketing departments to 80 network enterprises around the world, and the results were spectacular. The puma changed from a sickly cat to a huge beast. The reason for this change is that electronic communication within and between enterprises has greatly improved the efficiency of production, planning, information collection and data exchange. Due to the rapid rationalization of business, the production figures have increased while the cost has decreased.
The development of e-commerce is likely to bring the world into a brand-new era of "electronic money". With the emergence of virtual electronic money, each of us will be affected. At present, developed regions in Europe, America and Asia are already studying the possibility of electronic money. The main publication of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers even devoted a special issue of electronic money.
Electronic money is not just money. It refers to the entire financial system on the Internet. It includes a virtual digital currency, an electronic withdrawal, transfer and loan system, and smart cards (e-wallets) of various shapes and sizes. The emergence of electronic money system means the emergence of "virtual bank" and "virtual enterprise".
In fact, the embryonic form of virtual bank appeared in the United States in 1995, when its name was Security First Internet Bank, the first Internet bank in the world. Although it is a small bank, it represents the future trend. In the future, we may even have to give up the familiar paper money.
With the rapid development of the internet, the economy also promotes the development of the online market, which leads to the internet itself becoming the largest emerging market in the world. Of course, this is just the beginning. Although many companies have made huge profits by investing in the Internet market, they are often small companies, such as Yahoo, which has been in the spotlight for quite a long time. So far, most companies are losing money.
Internet and e-commerce will train a large number of freelancers, which will have a great impact on the social structure. In the era of knowledge economy, the competition for technological advantages will be more intense. This will certainly promote greater (even global) and more efficient cooperation to maintain competitiveness. Efficient research and development on the global network is most suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises to unite and break the monopoly of "giants"
It is not difficult to see that in this new network economy, especially electronic money and virtual banks, there are imminent dangers lurking. After expounding another feature of the knowledge economy era-globalization, the author will expound this danger.
Economic networking is in the ascendant.
In today's cross-century era, human society is beginning to change from the second stage of industrial economy to the third stage of knowledge economy. 2 1 century will be a new era of knowledge economy. This is the general trend. As mentioned above, the most striking feature of the new era of knowledge economy is the informationization and globalization of economic development. Firstly, this paper looks forward to this aspect of informatization.
Specifically, informatization is mainly reflected in the networking of communication means, which is the so-called network economy. This network refers to a computer network that connects all corners of the world through satellites, optical fibers, cables and telephone lines. With a click of the mouse, the information on the other side of the earth will immediately go around the earth at the speed of seven and a half times per second and run to your computer screen.
Singapore is an area where networking started earlier. We deposit money in a branch of the savings bank and can withdraw money from other branches of any bank in the whole island. This is the initial form of networking. It is only the future networking, and its significance is far deeper and wider.
Networking can be roughly divided into two aspects: first, the networking of supply and marketing relations between enterprises and customers. The second is the business relationship between enterprises, even the industrial production and scientific research within the regional scope, and even the global network. The example of banks and the online shopping that has appeared belong to the first aspect.
In the long run, online shopping is only a low-level networking and may not become the mainstream. After all, most things are inconvenient to buy online. Besides, everyone is online shopping. How about Orchard Road and Broadway in new york? A friend said that letting her daughter go shopping online instead of Orchard Road is tantamount to forcing her to jump off a building.
Therefore, the second aspect of the network will be the main one. It is not only a business connection, but also has far-reaching significance at a higher level. The reported global doctor consultation, online surgery and collaborative scientific research through the network are the precedents of this high-level networking.
Grove, president of Intel Corporation, which produces Pentium microprocessors, believes that the combination of new computer and network technology will bring ten times the speed to the future industry. The amazing power of e-commerce through the network will bring great changes to trade. Puma was on the verge of bankruptcy in 1992. Since 1993, Jaguar has distributed its production, logistics and sales to 80 computer network enterprises around the world, and achieved remarkable results. Jaguar has recovered from a sick cat to a real beast.
The reason is that this kind of electronic network within or between enterprises has greatly improved the efficiency of production, overall planning, information integration and data exchange, rationalized business rapidly, not only promoted production, but also greatly reduced costs.
The high development of e-commerce is likely to bring the world into a new era of "electronic money". The emergence of the ghost of electronic money will really affect each of us. At present, advanced areas in Europe, America and Asia have begun to study electronic money. At the beginning of this year, the most authoritative comprehensive journal of the American Institute of Electronic and Electrical Engineers also published an album specifically for electronic money.
The so-called electronic money, it does not only refer to coins, but generally refers to an electronic networked financial system. Including real electronic virtual digital coins, electronic cashier transfer loan system and various forms of smart cards (electronic wallets). The emergence of electronic money system will inevitably lead to the emergence of "virtual banks" and "virtual enterprises".
In fact, the embryonic form of this virtual bank, the world's first online bank, appeared in the United States as early as 1995. Although it is only a trivial small bank, it represents the future trend. At that time, we may really have to say goodbye to the used paper money.
At the same time, the network promotes the economy at a high speed, and the economy in turn promotes the network market, making the network itself the largest emerging market in the world. Of course, at present, it is only the beginning. Although many companies have made a lot of money in investing in the online market, they are often small companies. For example, Yahoo, once a sensation, is an example. So far, most companies have lost money.
The trend of networking and e-commerce will bring up a large number of freelancers and have a far-reaching impact on the social structure. The competition of science and technology in the era of knowledge economy will be more intense. This will certainly promote greater, broader cooperation and efficient cooperation on a global scale to maintain competitiveness. This global networked and efficient scientific research is especially suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises to unite to break the monopoly of "giants".
It is not difficult to predict that this new network economy, especially electronic money and virtual banking, has a very profound potential crisis. After further introducing another feature of "globalization" in the era of new knowledge economy, the author will try to discuss its potential crisis.