According to the Office for National Statistics, the return on capital for non-financial corporations hit 15.2% in the autumn of 2006,an all-time record.

Meanwhile, the Chief Economist at Morgan Stanley, Stephen Roach commented recently,

- "The pendulum of economic power is at unsustainable extremes in the developed world. For a broad collection of major industrial economies – the United States, the Eurozone, Japan, Canada and the UK – the share of economic rewards going to labour stands at a historical low of less than 54% of national income, down from 56% in 2001. Meanwhile, the share going to corporate profits stands at a record high of nearly 16% - a striking increase from the 10% reading five years ago."

- "This divergence is not sustainable," Roach goes on. "The angst of workers in the developed world has become a major source of tension.