Since the mid-1980s, Lazonick observes, “the resource-allocation regime at many, if not most, major U.S. business corporations has transitioned from ‘retain-and-reinvest’ to ‘downsize-and-distribute.’ Under retain-and-reinvest, the corporation retains earnings and reinvests them in the productive capabilities embodied in its labor force. Under downsize-and-distribute, the corporation lays off experienced, and often more expensive, workers, and distributes corporate cash to shareholders.

Meanwhile, there is an incentive to cut income for ordinary workers. Cutting wages drives up net income and thus the price of the stock in which executives are increasingly paid. Those executives who are not motivated by cupidity are held hostage. Any CEO who doesn’t keep growing the share price or who considers other interests than those of the shareholders is liable to lose his or her job or be subject to lawsuits. Even Silicon Valley firms whose founders retain controlling positions in their companies are not immune from pressure. Because so much of the compensation of their employees is now in stock, they can only continue to hire the best talent as long as the stock price continues to rise.