The $8 Trillion Internet: McKinsey's Bold Attempt to Measure the E-conomy

The Internet -- that 200 million-person, $8 trillion global economy -- accounted for 21 percent of GDP growth in the world's largest economies over the last 5 years, McKinsey found in a report released this week.* As an entity, it accounts for more GDP than the Spanish or Canadian economies, and it's growing faster than Brazil. 

As a sector, it is now larger than these countries' agriculture or energy industries.

Sweeping statements about the size and growth of the Internet are tough to swallow. So here are three highlights from the new McKinsey report:   More Read