Is inflation "transient"  or are there fundamental forces that will structurally heft it?  

Yes there are: 5 fundamental pro  inflationary forces:  Inequality, De-Globalisation,  Big Government; Monetising Central Banks;  and fiscal over-stimulation of the economy.

There are countervailing forces too: home working; on-line retailing; bankrupting and reallocation of the resources of unproductive  corporations; and technology - such as the replacement of workers with robots - to name a few.

which wins?  Why? And what it means for society and investors.