ABSTRACT
Internally hierarchies typically produce inequality of control, status, and income. Therefore they endanger both subjective equality and political equality. In a society of hierarchical organizations leaders can shift rewards to themselves and deprivations to non-leaders. Inadequate communication is also a frequent obstacle to effective control. Super-hierarchies may, of course, accumulate sufficient rewards and deprivations to exercise effective control over all the sub-hierarchies. Hierarchy generates great benefits and great costs. Although it is indispensable to modern civilization, if improperly employed it may snuff out the central core of Western values. Nevertheless marginal gains are possible; and a commitment to incrementalism means that, where marginal gains are possible, they should be seized. That an attempt to decrease some costs may frequently lead to increases in other costs is no argument for not acting to decrease the costs of hierarchy. Some form of price system is indispensable if hierarchy is to be held within desirable limits in industrial societies.
