Methods of production and economic tools

The agricultural society is based on man hours and production on an individual scale. Industry mechanises the processing of goods. The digital economy is based on an industrialisation of knowledge and intelligence. This means that the goal posts change. Industry is built on the accumulation of capital which allows for investment in a ever more efficient production process and an ever more widely spread commercial network. The digital butterfly's strength lies in its ability to develop its intelligence, whilst constantly repositioning itself in a changing environment (The Web economy).

Needs satisfied
It's easy to imagine that the physical production of goods and services will remain at the heart of the economy, since these respond to fundamental needs, but this would be a grave mistake : the agricultural society satisfies more basic needs (food, lodging) than the industrial society (consumer goods). In the same way, the services of the digital society will satisfy needs that are less and less essential ; down-to-earth, but with the power to assume a much higher value in the consumers' eyes. Thus, at present, the farmers in developed or developing countries earn less and less, as their production, which is over-abundant and insufficiently refined, has little value in today's economy. In the same way, today's goods and services which will lose their value, when confronted with the digital economy's products, which possess a higher value in terms of information.

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