[cm2187]

I think globalisation (as in outsourcing to cheaper countries) had a major role. It put out of a job low skilled workers in the US, and made (part) of the cost of living much cheaper to those with a job (all the stuff imported from China).

Money printing and the over accumulation of debt I think had less of an effect. It had inflationary effects on upper middle class activities (housing in big cities, college tuitions, etc), but I believe the bulk of the effects is yet to come: a period of high inflation that can have severe effects on our way of life.

AI's doom day scenario needs to take a ticket and wait in the queue...