Transition to the Knowledge Society, Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)

Industrial nations today are undergoing dramatic economic and social transformation. Knowledge and information are becoming the foundation for the organization and development of economic and social activity. At the core of this transformation is the rapid expansion of infomation and communication technologies (ICTs) and the growth of global competition.

Transition to the Knowledge Society describes the wide-ranging implications of ICTs, their potential for increased production, and their impact on jobs, skill development, wages and income. The authors address complex issues of distribution and equity - particularly with respect to disparities involving class, gender, ethnicity, age, and skill level. They warn of risks associated with the wide-spread use of ICTs that could lead to a society of "haves" and "have-nots", with certain segments of the world's population facing the prospect of marginalization or exclusion from the knowledge-based economy and society of the new millennium.

This book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding currrent developments and the role of public policy and private sector strategies in dealing with the effects of the introduction of ICTs.