Final answer:
The increasing dependence on e-commerce will expand market competition globally, disrupt traditional industries, and hasten the transition to an information economy where digital goods and services can be easily created and shared.
Step-by-step explanation:
An increasing dependence on e-commerce is poised to create significant change in the economic landscape. This shift toward technology and globalization in commerce means that consumers can easily shop for goods from anywhere in the world, which intensifies competition for local retail businesses. Similarly, the B2B (business-to-business) market experiences a broader competitive environment, with businesses able to connect with suppliers and buyers globally.
The sociological and economic impacts of this digital shift are profound, influencing consumer behavior and business strategies. While online platforms reduce costs for distributing digital goods, such as music or films, they can result in the rapid decline of traditional industries and have disruptive effects on employment. For instance, the rise of digital photography led to losses for companies such as Kodak, while the proliferation of online music services contributed to the closure of many record stores.
Moreover, automation and the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs contribute to the transition to an information economy. The ability to produce and disseminate information creatively is increasingly valuable, and this change is largely facilitated by the Internet and associated technologies, reshaping how industries operate and generating new types of online-focused businesses.