As public faith in national governments continued to rapidly decline in the face of chronic instability, perceived incompetence and corruption throughout the 2020s and early 2030s, with hindsight it was only a matter of time before their steady replacement by the Union of International Conglomerate Communities in the late 2030s. Known simply as The Cartel, by 2050 this global oligopoly comprised five major all-purpose conglomerates and a dozen or so minor ones, which controlled every aspect of life throughout much of the developed world and significant parts of the remainder. Thus installed, once more the trend towards an ever-more globalized world, briefly interrupted by the Nationalist Revival Period of 2015– 30, continued as it had since the late 1980s.

Initially, this radical shift led directly to a massive influx of private capital across economies as regulations were removed as cartel members actively recruited subscribers for ‘societal service’ bundles of utilities, education, healthcare, recreational activities and transport in ever-growing markets among the wealthier population segments. Long-neglected infrastructure was rapidly modernized and expanded, leading to employment opportunities mushrooming and wages rising, and increased wellbeing.

But there were also downsides. Incomes of the less fortunate citizenry engaged (not employed) in delivering those services were steadily reduced. Some social groups were unable to afford up-front subscription fees and so depended on more expensive pay-as-you-go packages, meaning inequality dramatically increased. Health outcomes for those unable to afford care plummeted.