June 17th, 2008
The P2P Economy and Developing American Sea Turtles
When we first started ebTDesign Forum, we talked about “sea turtles.” This term was coined by the Chinese to describe their young people who travel overseas to gain experience and build peer-to-peer business networks then return home to start families. In the past, students studying abroad would stay there after finishing their education. Now they are enticed to come home by preferential business funding practices.
Travel destinations have always reflected the times. The first great economic age was based on developing liberalized trade and travel was focused on potential trading partners. The last economic age was based on globalization and restoring industrial capacity after World War II. The next great economic age will be based on the P2P Economy and travel must be dedicated to developing global P2P relationships.
If America wants to change course on innovation, then its lawmakers need to find ways to encourage and support international student travel. Students should be allowed to learn more about enabling success in the P2P Economy. International travel must not be limited to distressed regions of the world or predicated on enlisting in the military. In order to prepare young people for their place in the P2P Economy, international travel can’t be just for the sons and daughters of the rich and famous.
The IT Investment Architect®
Concepts: globalization, Innovation, international-travel, P2P Economy