http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_economy

Podria escribir una tesis completa de este tema, pero por ahora les dejo con unos highlights pa q vayan aprendiendo..

The knowledge economy is a term that refers either to an economy of knowledge focused on the production and management of knowledge in the frame of economic constraints, or to a knowledge-based economy.

in a knowledge economy, knowledge is a product, while in a knowledge-based economy, knowledge is a tool

the developed world has transitioned from an agricultural economy (pre-Industrial Age, largely the agrarian sector) to industrial economy (with the Industrial Age, largely the manufacturing sector) to post-industrial/mass production economy (mid-1900s, largely the service sector) to knowledge economy (late 1900s – 2000s, largely the technology/human capital sector)

[ yo agregaria el proximo paso, luego de Knowledge economy, el 'conscience economy', a lo Star Trek, pero mas de esto mas adelante.. ]

In the knowledge economy, the specialized labor force is characterized as computer literate and well-trained in handling data, developing algorithms and simulated models, and innovating on processes and systems

It can be argued that the knowledge economy differs from the traditional economy in several key respects:

The economics are not of scarcity, but rather of abundance. Unlike most resources that become depleted when used, information and knowledge can be shared, and actually grow through application.
The effect of location is either
diminished, in some economic activities: using appropriate technology and methods, virtual marketplaces and virtual organizations that offer benefits of speed, agility, round the clock operation and global reach can be created.
or, on the contrary, reinforced in some other economic fields, by the creation of business clusters around centres of knowledge, such as universities and research centres. However, clusters already existed in pre-knowledge economy times.
Laws, barriers, taxes and ways to measure are difficult to apply solely on a national basis. Knowledge and information “leak” to where demand is highest and the barriers are lowest.
Knowledge enhanced products or services can command price premiums over comparable products with low embedded knowledge or knowledge intensity.
Pricing and value depends heavily on context. Thus the same information or knowledge can have vastly different value to different people, or even to the same person at different times.
Knowledge when locked into systems or processes has higher inherent value than when it can “walk out of the door” in people’s heads.
Human capital — competencies — are a key component of value in a knowledge-based company, yet few companies report competency levels in annual reports. In contrast, downsizing is often seen as a positive “cost cutting” measure.
Communication is increasingly being seen as fundamental to knowledge flows. Social structures, cultural context and other factors influencing social relations are therefore of fundamental importance to knowledge economies.

These characteristics require new ideas and approaches from policy makers, managers and knowledge workers.