late-stage capitalism
Terminal market society
Late-stage capitalism describes an era when capitalist systems have matured to produce extreme wealth concentration, corporate dominance, and commodification of basic needs.
The term implies decay or unsustainability—that contradictions within capitalism are becoming undeniable.
Often used critically or sarcastically to frame absurdities of modern economic life: Paying $18 for airport water is peak late-stage capitalism.
Late-stage capitalism means your landlord is a hedge fund.
One seller, no substitutes
- oligopolyFew firms dominate market
- mergerCorporate combination
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
- shareholder valueEquity investor financial returns
tech giants · market saturation · planned obsolescence · greenwashing · lobbying · tax avoidance · offshore banking · executive compensation
Pro-market, anti-regulation ideology
- consumerismPreoccupation with acquiring goods
- commodificationTransforming into sellable goods
- alienationState of being isolated
- precarityState of persistent vulnerability
financialization · corporatism · dystopia · inequality · exploitation · burnout · hustle culture · wage slavery
Economic inequality measure
- billionairesPeople with vast fortunes
- oligarchyRule by few
- povertySevere lack of resources
- homelessnessLacking permanent residence
food deserts · gentrification · redlining · stratification · underclass · elite · plutocracy · class divide
Destabilizing atmospheric heating
- environmental degradationDecline of natural surroundings
- planned obsolescenceDeliberately shortened product lifespan
- fast fashionTrend-driven cheap apparel
- e-wasteDiscarded technological devices
deforestation · resource extraction · carbon footprint · greenwashing · overconsumption
Work based on temporary contracts
- overworkToil to exhaustion
- underpayCompensate inadequately
- sweatshopsExploitative manufacturing facilities
- union bustingDisrupting worker organizing efforts
wage theft · automation · outsourcing · precariat · zero-hour contracts · side hustle · burnout · independent contractor
Sudden structural failure
- stagnationAbsence of flow or progress
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- entropyQuantified chaos in systems
erosion · hollowing out · dysfunction · unsustainability · endgame · terminal · diminishing returns · systemic failure
monopoly
One seller, no substitutes
- oligopolyFew firms dominate market
- mergerCorporate combination
- acquisitionAct of obtaining something
shareholder value · tech giants · market saturation · planned obsolescence · greenwashing · lobbying · tax avoidance · offshore banking · executive compensation · corporate welfare
neoliberalism
Pro-market, anti-regulation ideology
- consumerismPreoccupation with acquiring goods
- commodificationTransforming into sellable goods
- alienationState of being isolated
precarity · financialization · corporatism · dystopia · inequality · exploitation · burnout · hustle culture · wage slavery · corporate greed
wealth gap
Economic inequality measure
- billionairesPeople with vast fortunes
- oligarchyRule by few
- povertySevere lack of resources
homelessness · food deserts · gentrification · redlining · stratification · underclass · elite · plutocracy · class divide · working poor
climate crisis
Destabilizing atmospheric heating
- environmental degradationDecline of natural surroundings
- planned obsolescenceDeliberately shortened product lifespan
- fast fashionTrend-driven cheap apparel
e-waste · deforestation · resource extraction · carbon footprint · greenwashing · overconsumption
gig economy
Work based on temporary contracts
- overworkToil to exhaustion
- underpayCompensate inadequately
- sweatshopsExploitative manufacturing facilities
union busting · wage theft · automation · outsourcing · precariat · zero-hour contracts · side hustle · burnout · independent contractor · deskilling
collapse
Sudden structural failure
- stagnationAbsence of flow or progress
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
- decayGradual organic breakdown
entropy · erosion · hollowing out · dysfunction · unsustainability · endgame · terminal · diminishing returns · systemic failure
late-stage capitalismsocialism
Communal economic control
communism · post-capitalism · Marxism · collectivism · anarcho-communism
late-stage capitalismdegrowth
Intentional economic contraction movement
circular economy · economic stability · social democracy · welfare state · post-scarcity
late-stage capitalismindustrial capitalism
Factory-based profit-driven economy
latest, lately, lateness, stage, staged, stages, staging, stager, capital