I'm not saying that governments and large corporations aren't to blame for many many many bad things in the world. They are. I'm just saying that I don't think it's a small group of people planning those bad things from the top. Central planning doesn't work, in any context.
Also, in most cases, it's not needed. Given shitty incentives and no accountability, the collective will make sure we get terrible outcomes.
Fiat money + bad incentives + no accountability = 💩
I agree with your general statement. However do not discount the role that personal and informal networks of elites play in aligning their interests and their actions.
Some are blatant, like the WEF's meetings at Davos and the likes, but the most important ones are not in the open. They are not even "organized" or institutional in nature.
A bunch of ultra rich dudes getting together for a few days on someone's megayacht in the Maldives and casually discussing "desirable regulation", then going back home to lobby their regulators; weekly "casual" UFC match nights at somebody's mansion where "economic outlook" is in the menu; etc etc.
