I don't think it's entirely by design. We are overpopulated. From an influential paper on overpopulation in rats:
Previous research has found that if a population were allowed to exceed a comfortable density level, then many catastrophic events occurred such as increased mortality among the young, cannibalism, homosexuality, and lack of maternal functions.
Until recently, all people in history had the option of leaving. If your country sucked, you could pack your bags and go. Romans moved to the "barbarian lands", later Europeans fled to America or Australia. Now we are all stuck, our resources are dwindling and our governments are tightening the screws.
I agree those in power are trying to attempt a reset in their favor, but it will fly out of their control. I expect we will see several resets, many of them will be catastrophic. Some maybe not so bad. The world is going to suck for the next 50 years or so.