Companies use data and software to tier experiences—priority lines, premium views, exclusive menus—capturing affluent demand while letting baseline service stagnate. Even if incomes rise, the middle feels poorer because every touchpoint prompts an upsell and shunts them into inferior queues and spaces. Inequality shows up as engineered experience gaps, not just paychecks.
— It shifts inequality debates toward how design and pricing segment everyday life, informing policy on consumer welfare, dark patterns, and the erosion of shared public goods.
Scott Alexander
2025.09.04
50% relevant
The post cites Snow Martingale’s argument that fast‑food brands rebranded toward upscale, minimalist vibes (wraps/salads/decent coffee) to court affluent consumers, paralleling broader market segmentation where design and pricing target upper‑income demand while deprioritizing mass‑market experiences.
Oren Cass
2025.08.29
100% relevant
Daniel Currell’s NYT claim quoted here: “What’s profitable today is not unification. It’s segmentation,” with concrete Disney examples (different ads, lines, food, hotels, and parade sections).
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