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Cliodynamics: History of change; field of study focused on cycles of political integration and disintegration, particularly on state formation and state collapse.
Accelerants of change: elite overproduction and popular immiseration
Wealth pump: take from the poor and give to the rich e.g. through high rent, high taxes on labor with low taxes on capital, low wages
…when a state, such as the United States, has stagnating or declining real wages (wages in inflation-adjusted dollars), a growing gap between rich and poor, overproduction of young graduates with advanced degrees, declining public trust, and exploding public debt, these seemingly disparate social indicators are actually related to each other dynamically. Historically, such developments have served as leading indicators of looming political instability.
When the social pyramid becomes top-heavy, this has dire consequences for the stability of our societies.
Inevitably, as the number of aspirants per power position grows, some will decide to stretch the rules…Congratulations, you have just become a counter-elite-someone who is willing to break the rules to get ahead in the game.