So, when that time comes, what will you do?
The global population in 2024 stands at 8.2 billion. The population of the United States is 341 million, accounting for 4.15% of the total. According to a 2023 survey by U.S. financial services company Credit Karma, 27% of individuals aged 59 and older have made no savings, such as 401(k) defined contribution plans, to prepare for retirement.
In the United States, approximately 20% of the population can be considered part of the "winning group." This small group owns the majority of the world's wealth.
According to the "World Inequality Report 2022," published by the World Inequality Lab led by economist Thomas Piketty, the top 1% of the world's wealthy owned 37.8% of global personal assets in 2021. Moreover, the top 0.1% of the world's wealthy owned 19.4% of global assets. As of 2025, the concentration of wealth among these affluent individuals has increased further due to rising global stock prices.
The current global stock market capitalization stands at $121.8 trillion (1,919.2 quadrillion yen), with over 50% of this accounted for by U.S. stocks. For comparison, Japan's market capitalization is $6.5 trillion (1,024 trillion yen), approximately 5.1% of the global total.
In 2024, stock prices surged by $13.6 trillion (2,143 trillion yen), with U.S. stocks accounting for 90% of that increase.
Thomas Piketty, a French economist, argues in his book Capital in the Twenty-First Century that the imbalance of wealth in capitalism cannot resolve itself and will continue to widen unless intervention is made to address the disparity. His argument is based on the historically consistent inequality expressed by the formula r > g. Here, "r" represents the rate of return on capital, and "g" represents the economic growth rate.
It is estimated that less than 2% of the population benefits from r, while approximately 98% are reliant on g. Throughout history, the small minority of wealthy individuals has continued to accumulate wealth and dominate the less fortunate through power and monetary influence without exception.
Economically, the U.S. is already in a dominant position. Former President Trump, who is eyeing a comeback, prioritizes collecting wealth from around the world using tariffs as a weapon under the slogan "Make America Great Again" (MAGA).
The root of the issue lies in the extreme inequality within American society, exemplified by regions like the Rust Belt, and the failure of American politics to redistribute wealth. Greed knows no bounds, and it inevitably leads to conflict. In the process, the losing group—the impoverished—suffers even more. Ironically, the majority of these impoverished individuals enthusiastically support Trump and help him rise to power. Ignorance is truly terrifying.
Japan, an allied nation, is likely to suffer the most under Trump's policies. The impoverishment of the Japanese people will accelerate, national debt will continue to skyrocket, and the arrival of an inevitable "X-Day" is certain.
If a massive Nankai Trough earthquake, a capital region direct earthquake, or a series of super typhoons were to strike, it would immediately trigger "X-Day."
So, when that time comes, what will you do?