elite overproduction

English

Noun

elite overproduction (uncountable)

1. A situation in which there are more wealthy, well-educated, and ambitious elite individuals than can be absorbed by the existing positions of power, authority, and prestige.
   • 2007, George Modelski, Tessaleno Devezas, William R. Thompson, Globalization as Evolutionary Process: Modeling Global Change:

     In such cases, it may take the elites rather a long time to thin their ranks to the point where the problem of elite overproduction is abated and a new cycle can begin.

   • 2009, Secular Cycles, page 313:

     Just as overpopulation results in large segments of commoner population becoming immiserated, elite overproduction similarly results in large segments of elites becoming impoverished (not in absolute terms, as with common populace, but relatively to the standards of consumption needed to maintain the elite status).

   • 2019, David B. Hollander, Thomas R. Blanton IV, John T. Fitzgerald, The Extramercantile Economies of Greek and Roman Cities:

     The conflicts that we hear among local elites and in provincial cities, especially from the late first century CE onward, could well have resulted from such a situation of elite overproduction.