To be sure, as is the case in so many other opportunities for societal improvement, an improvement in the education system will be required for us to seize this chance to move a step closer to greater income parity. But computers are now very much on the minds of leaders in education reform.
On the other hand, Y2K, by exposing the vast differences in computer sophistication among nations, demonstrates that we have yet another “digital divide” concern to contend with: the lack in many countries of infrastructure in information technology will provide one more obstacle to their ability to improve their competitiveness with the advanced nations. Finally, some long-term concerns.