New Capitalism

Author: Zhang Guo
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-06-01
Features: This book is one of the first in China to discuss "New Capital." It is divided into two parts—Preface and Main Text. The Preface, titled "Heavenly Melody," conveys the author's yearning for human civilization through romantic poetic language, philosophical reflection, and passionate enthusiasm. The Main Text consists of 10 chapters, elaborating on the emergence, role, value, operational principles, and techniques of New Capital, as well as its impact on human society, enterprises, and individuals from the perspective of value concepts to survival states. The concepts proposed in the book, such as "Knowledge Capital," "Super Value," and "1 + 1 = 11," hold significant reference value for current entrepreneurs, business leaders, theorists, and individuals.
Excerpt: New Capital—Unveiling a New Era
"New Capital Economy" was proposed on the basis of market globalization and the information revolution. In the United States, a revolution that drove global economic and social progress took place. The economy experienced sustained growth, stock markets climbed steadily, companies merged frequently, and billionaires emerged one after another, marking a rare high-growth cycle in U.S. economic history. Moreover, with low prices, booming markets, reduced unemployment, increased national income, and low inflation, the U.S. economy surged forward, stimulating the global economy and invigorating its vitality, forming a trend of rapid global economic development. The emergence of the U.S. "New Economy" was primarily dependent on the rapid development of the information industry. High technology propelled the comprehensive development of the U.S. economy, while a strong financial background laid the foundation for its takeoff. In the United States, there are over a dozen world-class banks with assets exceeding $10 billion. This provided robust financial support for the development of information networks, hardware upgrades, and the enhancement of computer systems. Over half of American households own computers. Due to the significant investment in the development of information technology industries, the United States dominates the Internet. The global information industry is almost monopolized by U.S.-produced silicon chips. When a country or international organization holds crucial influence over the global market, the initiative of the world economy falls into its hands. Globalization will end the era of isolation and backwardness, and the technological revolution and an open world will lead human society into a new stage of civilization. Breaking away from the traditional models of the old era has become an irreversible trend. After World War II, Europe's economic recovery was largely supported by the United States. In the post-war period, the United States initiated and promoted the establishment of international organizations, significantly boosting and advancing the growth of world trade. Organizations such as the European Union, the G7 Summit, the OECD, and the WTO all play vital roles in global economic development. The United States seeks to establish a new mechanism to coordinate and address the challenges of the New Economy era. The formation of the world's New Economy is primarily determined by the growth of material wealth in the 20th century, the development of high technology, and the influence of economic globalization. Advanced technology and management, through international cooperation, rapidly spread, enabling developing countries to accelerate their development and gradually catch up with advanced developed nations. While developed countries expand economically into developing regions, they also spread advanced technology and civilization, allowing developing countries to avoid many detours and shorten the gap between them and developed nations. Gary Hamel, a U.S. scholar, said, "We live in a world without continuity. In this world, digitization, deregulation, and globalization are profoundly transforming the landscape of industry. What we see is a significant increase in new forms of economic life—virtual institutions, global consortia, online trade, and so on. In our pursuit of creating new wealth, we have reached the end of gradualism. There is a turning point from seeking differences to seeking consensus, and a new form of collectivism is emerging." Society is transitioning from a power-based society to an equal society, from a hierarchical society to a civilized society, and from a knowledge-based society to a network-based society. People will live in an era of equality, harmony, prosperity, and civilization in the network age. Those born after the late 20th century will be the mainstream figures of the new network era. From the perspective of the global economic landscape, technologies such as information technology, telecommunications, genetic engineering, ultra-micro technology, microscopic technology, and biotechnology will have a significant impact on the world economy. The United States, with high-tech information as its leading industry, holds advantages in software, networks, information, communications, and multimedia, leading the world. Semiconductor products are mainly produced in Malaysia and Ireland. However, Malaysia has established the "Multimedia Super Corridor," an Eastern Silicon Valley. China primarily produces labor-intensive products, such as daily necessities and toys. However, India's software industry is an indispensable force in the world's high-tech sector. India's Bangalore software development center has become the "Silicon Valley" of India's high technology. Taiwan's Hsinchu Science Industrial Park is also a rising star. In the early stages of the New Economy era, the main operational characteristics of New Capital involve developed countries or regions using high-tech means to invent and create new technologies to dominate the markets of underdeveloped countries, thereby gaining profits. The money earned in these underdeveloped regions is largely funneled back into their own coffers, essentially making them perpetual "poor helpers of the rich." This is also an important way for New Capital to achieve capital expansion through modern means. The 21st century will develop under the framework of the world's New Economy, with mutual benefit, cooperation, effectiveness, transcendence, and development becoming the mainstream of the New Economy era. New Capital will redefine the nature and concepts of traditional capital, playing a role in eradicating human poverty, improving living standards, enhancing quality of life, protecting the environment, and creating peace and tranquility. With its immense energy, New Capital will unveil a new era for humanity and create a new civilization.