[carlosjobim]

Because of organic search, not because of the ads. It has had a massive effect on the economic opportunities of newcomers. You can open a restaurant outside of the main walking street of a place and get customers through Google Maps. You can have a small business selling almost anything online and people will find you using Google search. Before that you'd have to rely on traditional advertising for anybody to know you exist, which is neither cheap nor effective. Today you can start a business and pay 0 in advertising, and Google will still help customers find you through organic search.

Don't underestimate how much freedom that gives people to strike it out on their own.