The original studies of Baumol Cost Disease were based on the idea that the production of symphonic performance has had no productivity increase since ... well, ever.
When asked why there are no "variety" shows on television, Glen Campbell ( of the "Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" ) stated that they were verging on economically infeasible while his show was on, and you certainly couldn't do that today. My understanding is that "The Carol Burnett Show" had this problem and it only ran as long as it did because it was CBS' flagship program. "Carol Burnett" was not a classic variety show using ... a dozen artists per program so it was probably less expensive than Campbell's.
I'd expect the same has happened in aviation. Now, is that the same thing as "we got stupider"? I can't say.
When asked why there are no "variety" shows on television, Glen Campbell ( of the "Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour" ) stated that they were verging on economically infeasible while his show was on, and you certainly couldn't do that today. My understanding is that "The Carol Burnett Show" had this problem and it only ran as long as it did because it was CBS' flagship program. "Carol Burnett" was not a classic variety show using ... a dozen artists per program so it was probably less expensive than Campbell's.
I'd expect the same has happened in aviation. Now, is that the same thing as "we got stupider"? I can't say.