Elon University
The prediction, in brief:

Capitalism, demonstrably the greatest of the constructed economic systems, has in the past decade clearly proved its advantages over the alternative systems. The information highway will magnify those advantages. It will allow those who produce goods to see, a lot more efficiently than ever before, what buyers want, and will allow potential consumers to buy those goods more efficiently. Adam Smith would be pleased. More important, consumers everywhere will enjoy the benefits.

Predictor: Gates, Bill

Prediction, in context:

In his 1995 book “The Road Ahead,” Microsoft CEO Bill Gates writes: ÒCapitalism, demonstrably the greatest of the constructed economic systems, has in the past decade clearly proved its advantages over the alternative systems. The information highway will magnify those advantages. It will allow those who produce goods to see, a lot more efficiently than ever before, what buyers want, and will allow potential consumers to buy those goods more efficiently. Adam Smith would be pleased. More important, consumers everywhere will enjoy the benefits.Ó

Biography:

Bill Gates, the most influential technology entrepreneur of the late 20th century, was the primary author of the prediction-packed 1995 book “The Road Ahead” and is the founder and CEO of Microsoft Corporation. (Entrepreneur/Business Leader.)

Date of prediction: January 1, 1995

Topic of prediction: Economic structures

Subtopic: General

Name of publication: The Road Ahead (book)

Title, headline, chapter name: Chapter 8: Friction-Free Capitalism

Quote Type: Direct quote

Page number or URL of document at time of study:
Page 183

This data was logged into the Elon/Pew Predictions Database by: Guarino, Jennifer Anne