Web Economy to Hit $4.2 Trillion as Users Pick Surfing Over Sex
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The Internet economy of the G-20 nations will reach $4.2 trillion by 2016 almost 1.7 times last year’s estimated level, as more than two-thirds of Americans would forgo coffee and 21 percent give up sex for a year to stay online, Boston Consulting Group said.
U.S. consumers said they would need to receive about $2,500 to stay offline for that period, according to a BCG survey released today. Consumers in most countries would require three percent to six percent of their average annual income to follow suit, the study found. All said they valued search, e-mail, online banking and investing functions. BCG interviewed about 1,000 users in each country.