Secular cycles are one of the most pervasive rhythms of history. They affect practically all facets of social life, from homicide rates to the styles of architecture. The phase of the secular cycle also determines the trend in social and economic inequality—whether it increases or decreases. This aspect is of particular interest because of the corrosive effect that glaring inequality has on the willingness of people to cooperate, which in turn underlies the capacity of societies for collective action. The effect of growing inequality is not limited to the escalation of “class warfare” between
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