Skill-biased technological change has propelled growing inequality in labor incomes both within and across occupations, in turn fueling the marked increase in overall income inequality. Smart machines and global connections have also boosted income inequality in two other ways: by increasing the size and scope of global markets for top-rated talent in a variety of fields (the so-called winner-take-all effect), and by generating huge excess returns or monopoly rents from the creation and ownership of intellectual property and intangible capital.
以技能为基础的科技变革导致各职业内部以及不同职业之间的劳动收入日趋不平等，又反过来加剧了整体的收入不均状态。智能机器和全球互联同时也以另外两种方式促进了收入不均：一是通过扩大特定领域的顶尖人才所面对的全球市场规模和范围（所谓胜者通吃理论）；二是让那些知识产权和无形资产的创造和拥有者们获取超额回报或是垄断收入。