Future of Networks and Internet. Part IV. Borderless Scenario
Monday, April 6th, 2009 by Roberto SaraccoDiscussion on the Borderless World (I did not participated in the group) pointed out the following:
There are no more borders, but a global commercial infrastructure. Companies have the ability to provide software and services that allows government to step back.
There is strong service orientation overcoming the limits of nations with global solution to global problems.
The drawback is that the focus short term and fundamental research is disappearing, due to lack of funding (diverted to commercial interest). This short term is also affecting investment in long term research funding, there may be volatility in the market, instability and area of non-sustainable investment. There may be inequalities on access to services, in healthcare, education, labor and infrastructure.
This correspond to social inequalities with the survival of the fittest.
On the contrary the opportunities are in finding a better balance between public and private, redefining universal services. Companies are becoming more like Governments (with Corporate Social Responsibility).
The lack of universal services will be a threat to many, there will be a failing of public governance, would there remain a role for a Government or it will be substituted by a Global Company controlling the infrastructure and deployment of services (a Telecom Operator?!).
I do not agree to some of these speculations, I do not see as a consequence the fact that a borderless world would necessarily stymie basic research, nor I feel that a borderless world will create de facto monopolies. I rather think that we would have competing giants leveraging massive economies of scales but at the same time the low barrier of entrance (provided by the absence of boundaries) and the intrinsic diversity of markets will provide plenty of opportunities to smaller dynamic companies to play their game.
Tags: policies