The Real Economy Blog

Tech, Media and Telecom

IT firms comprise the fastest-growing U.S. industry, with more than double the average growth of all other sectors. From software developers to new gig economy platforms, the middle market is an active participant in this exciting space.

As cars become increasingly connected, the prevalence of autonomous vehicles will grow

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In recent years, auto companies have developed more technologies that enable autonomy for their vehicles. As the number of sensors and technologies in cars has increased, so too has the amount of data available for machine learning algorithms to harness for potential innovation. These data points are sourced from a car’s steering, braking and navigation ... READ MORE >

Tech jobs have not been spared in the pandemic, but growth of remote work helps some

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Before COVID-19, unemployment in the technology sector was at a five-decade low and was far lower than the overall U.S. unemployment rate. Though unemployment has risen for some parts of the technology sector as the pandemic has gripped the country, companies are still hiring for other roles. Job postings for web developers and applications software ... READ MORE >

Wearables and the fight against COVID-19

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As COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, research organizations are trying to leverage wearable technology and crowd-source data to aid in the fight against the global pandemic. But many are wondering if giving up on user privacy for the greater good comes with a price. Tracking COVID-19 Current data indicates that the use of wearables has tripled ... READ MORE >

Despite COVID-19, TV broadcasting has potential to finish 2020 strong

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Strong revenues are becoming more of an anomaly in 2020, given disruptions across all industries as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to unfold. Yet despite the competitive landscape, local television stations and broadcasting networks in the United States continue to position themselves for a strong 2020, with projected revenues of $37 billion. ... READ MORE >

Coronavirus and the global technology supply chain

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To understand why the coronavirus has had such a profound impact on global supply chains and the world economy, look no further than how reliant technology companies have become on Chinese manufacturers. Nearly 20 years ago, during the SARS epidemic, China’s economy was much different and less interconnected to the world economy, supplying mainly ... READ MORE >

The new tech economy is all about location, location, location

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Economic output in the United States is increasingly revealing a geographic divide, with a greater share of gross domestic product being concentrated in the nation’s largest metropolitan areas. In 2018, 31 counties generated 32% of U.S. gross domestic output, according to a report in Bloomberg based on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The ... READ MORE >

Coronavirus epidemic threatens technology global supply chain

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Coronavirus deaths continue to rise Recently, we’ve seen significant volatility within the global market as investors continue to weigh the overall impact of the coronavirus (2019-nCoV).  While a vaccine from drugmaker Gilead Sciences Inc. brings a glimmer of hope in finding a cure, the virus continues to spread rapidly throughout China, primarily ... READ MORE >

Private equity looks for recession-proof deals

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These are flush times for American private equity funds. Through November, they have raised more capital than any other fiscal year. But a good portion of that cash has not been put to use – yet. One reason is that many takeover targets have simply become too expensive, a dynamic reflected in the drop in deal activity for 2019. According to RSM Bloomberg, ... READ MORE >