My hypothesis is that when such changes are made to a society, the elite have mechanisms on how to profit from such a change.

Some of the elite may have altruistically and ideologically supported the change. The profit was secondary.

Some of the elite may have opposed the change. But if the change is going to happen, they too might as well profit.

Average people do not have access to any informal techniques and offshore bank accounts to take advantage of the change.

We really need a better democracy.