The idea of "the law of the land" is weakening. To attract foreign investment, countries are creating separate, business-friendly court systems within their territory, sometimes even renting foreign judges. This "uncouples" law from land for a select, powerful few.
Far from being sacred, national sovereignty is often sold as a commodity. Countries generate revenue by selling internet domains (.ly for Libya), offering citizenship for investment (Malta), or acting as a "flag of convenience" for ships (Liberia), effectively renting out their legal jurisdiction.
Freeports are high-security warehouses that exist physically within a country but legally outside its customs jurisdiction. This allows the ultra-rich to store art, gold, and other valuables indefinitely as goods perpetually "in transit," keeping them hidden from tax authorities and the public.
Before streaming, good local musicians could make a living. Now, platforms like Spotify pit them directly against global superstars like Taylor Swift. This dynamic, present in many industries, concentrates earnings at the very top, making it hard for the "very good" to succeed.
Technology and innovation drive down the cost of manufactured goods like TVs. However, in a growing economy, wages rise, making services that depend on human labor (like haircuts and childcare) progressively more expensive over time. This explains a key aspect of modern cost-of-living pressures.
Contrary to fears of mass job replacement, technology like ATMs historically automated specific tasks (e.g., cash dispensing), freeing workers (bank tellers) to focus on higher-value activities like sales and customer relationships. This often changes jobs rather than destroying them.