Final answer:
Information is the most important commodity in a post-industrial society where knowledge drives the economy and those with the ability to manage information hold power. The Internet and digital technology have transformed industries, emphasizing the need for education and technical skills in a society driven by service roles over manufacturing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most important commodity in a post-industrial society is information. In these modernized nations, the economy is driven by knowledge rather than material goods, where power lies with those who can store, produce, and disseminate information. This shift to an information society has been facilitated by the rise of the Internet and digital technologies, which have transformed traditional industries and created new ones that operate almost entirely online. The importance of technical skills and education is emphasized, as these provide the means for success in a society where service roles like software programmers and business consultants become much more prevalent than traditional manufacturing jobs.
Telecommunications advancements have significantly lowered the cost of managing long-distance economic activities such as production and sales. High-value products and services like computer software, financial advice, music, movies, and more can be efficiently distributed through computer networks. With the advent of such technologies, those who have control over the digital technology sphere, akin to industrial magnates of the past, are the new leaders in this economy of information.