Final answer:
Global corporations have historically targeted the wealthiest individuals and the affluent segments of the middle class, aligning with the unequal distribution of wealth where a small number of people hold a significant portion of economic resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Historically, global corporations have primarily focused their attention on higher income levels, including the wealthiest individuals at the top of the economic pyramid and those in the affluent segments of the middle class. This focus links back to the concentration of wealth and resources, which is a significant aspect of global inequality. The richest individuals and nations often hold an outsized share of economic resources, as demonstrated by a report suggesting that the richest eighty-five people in the world have a combined wealth greater than that of the poorest 3.5 billion. The fact that corporate profits and CEO pay have seen substantial increases, while the middle class's income and wealth have declined since the 1970s, reinforces the observation that global corporations tend to target the economic upper echelons in their business and marketing strategies.