Generational Dynamics and the Rise of Fall of a Nation

I have previously written about why Singapore (and in fact many nations) are going through difficult times politically. I have found a nice graphic recently that displays this very well. I encountered this graphic when reading about the rise and fall of dynasties in China.

Singapore, like China then, started from a lower wealth and population base back when we started our journey as a nation. Under capable men, backed by a population willing to make the necessary sacrifices for their future, Singapore grew rapidly...and ran into the present situation.

1. Singapore's relative productivity level (relative to what it was in the growing years) has fallen as our population numbers and demands grow beyond what we can provide for.
2. Population demands is especially interesting - what used to satisfy no longer does, and the populace clamour for bigger, better things. It is like the satiation effect of a drug. You want more and more as the previous "high" no longer satisfies.
3. Wealth concentration grows, and even though wealth has increased as a whole, the concentration of it, creating a gap between those who aspire and those who have, becomes too large to ignore.

Students of generational dynamics have always been asked - can something stop this? We are generally fatalistic in this sense, in that we believe the cycle would always continue. The only thing we can do is to recognise there is a cycle forming, and attempt to make the rise and fall less disruptive.