Except this was all triggered with the end of ZIRP...this all happened relatively recently.
High interest rates forced corporations to actually get serious about profitability. Layoffs, price hikes, charging more for less is all related to that.
For sure. But there will always be good times and bad. Main streets in towns were likewise vital communities until interest rate hikes and massive deregulation in the 80s.
If you want to keep quaint Norwegian looking towns pristine even through harder times you need fairly heavy regulation.
High interest rates forced corporations to actually get serious about profitability. Layoffs, price hikes, charging more for less is all related to that.