Factories, software

One of the biggest changes from the industrial age to the information age is who is able to have a stake in the economy.

To be a significant player, you needed to build and buy factories. They are expensive, and tied to limited resources including land which makes them very difficult to move.

Now, software makes the world turn. All you need to be a part of this system is creativity, skill, and cheap electronics (and willingness to fail and try again).