Technology is advancing in leaps and bounds -- and so is economic inequality, says writer Chrystia Freeland. In an impassioned talk, she charts the rise of a new class of plutocrats (those who are extremely powerful because they are extremely wealthy), and suggests that globalization and new technology are actually fueling, rather than closing, the global income gap. Freeland lays out three problems with plutocracy … and one glimmer of hope.

Chrystia Freeland: The rise of the new global super-rich

The rise of the new global super-rich

Meritocratic plutocracy risks turning into cronyism or aristocracy, threatening social mobility and widening the wealth gap.

In 1992, the Forbes 400 list's wealth was $300 billion; today, it's quintupled to $1.7 trillion, showcasing stark wealth growth.

Globalization & tech have enabled rapid wealth accumulation for a few, yet the middle class faces job erosion and stagnant wages.