The World in 2030

274 The World in 2030
300,000-odd land-lines in the country, probably twothirds
are usually on the blink. 494
But even though the effect of reducing friction will have
a dramatic impact on the living standards of those in the
developing world, the gap between the richest nations and
poorest is likely to grow between now and 2030. This is not
because the developed world will decrease its philanthropy
and aid – indeed I believe that will be substantially increased
(although more effectively applied) – but it is because that
in addition to the wealth-generating removal of friction
from our business and social processes we will also have
the benefit of the enormous new amount of wealth that
will be created for us by super-intelligent machines and
manufacturing robots.
Within our societies inequality will continue to increase,
as it is increasing today. Even though the poorest groups
in developed societies have become much better off over
the last twenty-five years (and will be very much better off
comparatively by 2030) the wealth of the richest in our
society has grown far faster. This trend will continue and
although the middle-classes will continue to expand and
become more affluent, the super-rich will become mega-rich
and then hyper-rich. And there will be many more hyperrich
people in the world of 2030.
Will an elite emerge by 2030 that will separate itself
from the rest of us? It already has. There have been elites
in every society and today the mega-millionaires and the
billionaires live lives which are almost completely detached
from ordinary society.