I agree with the idea that the influx of wealth, and its unequal distribution, lead to the corruption of the Republic, but my understanding is that the later West Roman Empire had a shortage of wealth, not an excess.
I was referring to mid-Empire, not late Empire. By the late stages of the Empire, the wealth had been largely squandered, and administration of the Empire had suffered by the corruption and chaos in attaining what little wealth was left (the constant changes of Emperor, with more than a few reigning for as little as months, or weeks created an instability issue, as well...)
the infowarrior