Many decades ago the economist Joseph Schumpeter, explained all this in terms not very optimistic. He foretold that capitalism sows the seeds of its own destruction. Capitalism provides the prosperity and excess capital to support the non-productive elements of society, on the fringes. Academics, actors, public employees, etc., any people not capable of productive enterprise, are automatically shunted into non-productive roles, where they relentlessly condemn the capitalistic society that supports them. The productive people lose confidence in themselves. Their own materialistic way of life seems so tawdry compared to the idealistic, lofty, protests of their critics, who disdain the entrepreneurial class. It is interesting watching this drama play itself out.