Political Economy of Information Industry

The transition from a manufacturing and product based economy, which primarily produces tangible goods, to an economy which is extensively 'knowledge-oriented' and dominated by information goods has been dramatic. The key drivers for the transition have been the globalization and the emergence of 'self-acting' transnational finance capital. Under the current system of economic organization, Information has seen increasingly being monopolised, sold and manipulated through restrictive legal regime with a single motive of furthering the profit for transnational corporations. The monopoly rights on the information acts as the key reason behind the ability of the Information technology companies to amass huge wealth and unreasonable profit. These companies are being evaluated in the 'speculative' market rather than based on the real assets helps them to project a highly inflated valuation in the stock market compared to traditional brick and mortar companies. Such speculative evolution and transactions with a disconnect from the real asset and economy leads to the formation of a parallel virtual economy which is vulnerable to the high instabilities and bubble formations.

Please watch the video below for a full presentation on the 'Political Economy of Information Industry'.