Oddbean new post about | logout
 What are the advantages of centralization?

We see centralization naturally in times of crisis. Animals have group behaviour protocols for fight/flight situations, as do humans. The defining feature of such situations is that any coordinated action is better than no action, and there are often very few options to choose from.

Centralization is wasteful, and often dangerous, in all other situations. When options are many, when inaction may be wisest, when creativity and more knowledge is needed to make good choices. Then you want a proliferation of guessing, testing, criticizing, creation.

Now ask yourself: is it a coincidence that everything is constantly framed as a crisis? 
 Centralized whatever is the art of obtaining a higher energy density, and the only  purpose is power, in a vector that won't even exist in decentral.