Google "democratization of luxury" and you get 4330 hits. This morning's LA Times mentions a new private aircraft that will sell for $139,000 ("Built for just plane fun ... Icon's A5 is meant to be flown more places by more people").
Today's WSJ has a section on cities, including an interview with Ed Glaeser. Responding to a question on higher gasoline prices, he says, "I would be very surprised to see a wholesale change in the nature of American urban development."