I think the cynical thing here is assuming that the Elite class will continue to grow and make the lower economic classes suffer at their expense. The thing is though that being overly rich in a shit world is not much of a benefit to anyone. The Elite could set up there own little world (I'm kind of thinking like Elysium), but even that eventually will break into some elites who have more than other elites, and the cycle repeats.
The system will improve once we democratize resources more and more.
To use a tech example, look at computers. Just 20 years ago they were extremely expensive and out of the hands of many people, especially schools in poorer communities. Through manufacturing processes, we have driven there price extremely low (ex raspberry pi) enabling even the poorest communities to have access to learning programming and creating things. This would not be possible without the democratization of technology.
Another example is food. Advances in science and agriculture have enabled us to create vast amounts of fruits, vegetables, etc... and our distribution system allows for these resources to reach even the smallest of communities; And this can be done at extremely low costs. Here is a way to put it into perspective. 50 years ago you couldn't go to a rural community in Northern Canada and get a pomegranate without paying a huge premium to have it delivered there from a warm country where it is grown, thus only rich people in that community could enjoy a pom. Now, Poms are growing readily and moved around the world, so for a couple dollars anyone can enjoy one.
That is the power of democratization of technology and resources, and the next big step is democratizing our financial systems and marketplaces to distribute wealth better.
if that were to be true (elite not 'growing' at the masses' expense) it would have already happened. modern world is essentially what u describe, elites, lesser elites and then the struggling commons.
The system will improve once we democratize resources more and more.