Today’s digital world is organized around two centers of gravity: the U.S. West Coast and the east coast of China. These gold coasts are home to nine of the top 10, and 18 of the top 20, internet companies, as measured by market capitalization. The leading companies in online search, social media, and e-commerce are all based in one or the other of these two regions. But as the digital revolution continues to spark widespread disruption in other industries — automotive, financial services, health care, and retail — who will win? As other nations consider their own stakes in the game, and as incumbents engage with digital disruption, will the two centers of gravity hold, or will the gains be more widely distributed?
18 of the Top 20 Tech Companies Are in the Western U.S. and Eastern China. Can Anywhere Else Catch Up?
Three questions that could determine what comes next.
May 03, 2018
CliqueImages/Getty Images
Summary.
Today’s digital world is organized around two centers of gravity: the U.S. West Coast and the east coast of China. These gold coasts are home to nine of the top 10, and 18 of the top 20, internet companies, as measured by market capitalization. But as the digital revolution continues to spark widespread disruption in other industries — automotive, financial services, health care, and retail — who will win? As other nations consider their own stakes in the game, and as incumbents engage with digital disruption, will the two centers of gravity hold, or will the gains be more widely distributed? That may depend on the answer to three questions: Will governments build digital walls? Will other nations develop local champions and innovation hubs? And will China’s digital giants expand overseas?