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Massive Study Links IP Addresses Per Capita To GDP (itnews.com.au)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the protocols-for-productivity dept.

Three researchers "decided to scan the entire IPv4 address range every 15 minutes between 2006-2012 to work out what insights they could gain from humanity's mass connection to the internet," reports ITnews. The study...analysed data from 411 large regions from middle to high-income countries and found a positive correlation between GDP per capita and the number of IP addresses per head. A 10% increase in IP addresses per capita was associated with an 0.8% hike in GDP, the analysis found. The researchers cautioned that the output and productivity growth they noted when the number of IP address increased was correlation rather than causation. Service-oriented sectors -- such as publishing, news, film production, administrative support, and education -- appear to have suffered a negative effect from increasing internet penetration [PDF]. The researchers believe these sectors were susceptible to competition from cheaper outsourcing providers.
Slashdot Bismillah pointed out that the researchers also measured sleeping patterns over seven years, assuming IP addresses of internet-connected devices generally correlated to people who were awake. According to the article, "They found that sleep patterns may be changing and converging around the world: Europeans slept less, East Asians more, while Americans' sleeping patterns remained static over the seven-year period."

7 of 64 comments (clear)

  1. IPV6 - The worlds savior by SuperKendall · · Score: 4, Funny

    A 10% increase in IP addresses per capita was associated with an 0.8% hike in GDP

    Well since there are 4.2Ã--10^37 42 undecillion IPv6 addresses, that means that we can boost the GDP of every nation on earth a thousands times greater than what it is now!

    Behold starving citizen of a war-torn nation (take your pick which nation): We bring you more addresses than you could possibly comprehend! Even if you lose a limb or two, it can have its own IPV6 address!

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:IPV6 - The worlds savior by Anne+Thwacks · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Blacks in large numbers simply cannot be peaceful and civil, not anyplace in the world.

      However, there is a slight lack of data behind this assertion. The murder rate per thousand in West Africa (which has almost exclusively black people) is similar to Northern Europe (excluding where certain militant Islamist groups are on the rampage in both regions).

      The murder rate in both North and South America is roughly ten times higher.

      As many others have observed before me: Guns don't kill people: Americans kill people.

      --
      Sent from my ASR33 using ASCII
    2. Re:IPV6 - The worlds savior by currently_awake · · Score: 2

      I have discovered there is a correlation between owning a luxury car and having lots of money. I suggest giving them out to make everyone rich.

  2. In other news... by ITRambo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    In other news, people that have more money on average also have more "stuff".

    1. Re:In other news... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2

      In other news, people that have more debt on average also have more "stuff" to keep up with people who have more money.

      FTFY — A.K.A., The American Dream.

  3. Wow people with more money have more computers by Crashmarik · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Who would of thought that.

  4. Don't let the policy wonks see this by popo · · Score: 3, Funny

    This is exactly the kind of thing that logically challenged policymakers will mistake for a causality.

    Next thing you know they'll be buying blocks of IP addresses and waiting for GDP to rise.

    --
    ------ The best brain training is now totally free : )