I would guess (of course this is just an observation, no real evidence) that both scenarios are plausible, and there is actually a feedback loop between them. R

I would guess (of course this is just an observation, no real evidence) that both scenarios are plausible, and there is actually a feedback loop between them. Roughly: Superiority complex -> unethical behavior economically -> economic superiority -> increased sense of superiority -> unethical behavior in general -> ad infinitum