My pet idea is that our current world order (on average) has been great at lifting people out of poverty BUT ALSO great at keeping those at the top, at the top.

My pet idea is that our current world order (on average) has been great at lifting people out of poverty BUT ALSO great at keeping those at the top, at the top. And this looks great on paper: let the pie grow instead of taking from some to give to others. But the result is: some people stop being able to climb the ladder, and some seem happily stuck at the top.