trickle-down theory

American  

noun

1. an economic theory that monetary benefits directed especially by the government to big business will in turn pass down to and profit smaller businesses and the general public.

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Etymology

Origin of trickle-down theory

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Many of the people who are begging Congress to appropriate money to hunt UFOs apparently subscribe to a trickle-down theory, where they believe that some of that money will end up in their pockets.

From Salon • Aug. 9, 2021

It’s basically a trickle-down theory of female empowerment.

From The Guardian • Nov. 22, 2017

Call it the trickle-down theory of space exploration: Somehow, building a luxury-liner suborbital rocket ship for the amusement of the ultrarich, ultrafamous, and ultrabored will be a great victory for all of humanity.

From Slate • Dec. 30, 2014

Dick Tressel, Jim's older brother and his running backs coach at Ohio State, says there's a trickle-down theory, from father to sons, that is still in force with the Buckeyes.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 7, 2010

In a perverse version of the trickle-down theory, lower-echelon bankers raked in multimillion-dollar salaries, and new recruits with two years' experience earned six-figure sums.

From Time Magazine Archive