Final answer:
The term for a nation's ability to progress towards an economy based on computer technology is e-readiness. It involves the use of ICT to foster economic growth and has both positive effects, such as increased globalization, and challenges, such as job displacements. Information is the most valuable commodity in a postindustrial society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ability of a nation to move towards an economy that relies more on computer technology is referred to as e-readiness. E-readiness indicates a country's capability to utilize information and communication technologies (ICT) to drive economic growth, enhance communication, and support overall development. Technology, especially ICT, has been pivotal in driving globalization, leading to more integrated and interconnected economies.
Through technological diffusion, which is the spread of technology across borders, there has been significant progress in the accessibility of technology in peripheral and semi-peripheral nations. This diffusion is not without its challenges, but it also offers opportunities for economic growth and the alleviation of poverty, alongside the creation of industries that thrive in a postindustrial society where information has become the most valuable commodity.
However, achieving technological equality globally remains a challenge, and while ICT has created economic opportunities by fostering megafirms and improving efficiencies, it has also resulted in job displacements and necessitated regulatory measures to manage these changes. The adaptation to an information economy reflects a shift toward using computers and other technologies to drive innovation, productivity, and economic expansion.