Social forms decay. This truism often elicits sweeping historical narratives that resurrect ancient names and obscure metaphysical disputes, while ignoring the most relevant social units—the organizations we interact with on a regular basis. Many of today’s most powerful organizations, from nonprofits to corporations, have been insulated from the immediate repercussions of decay by monetary policy, or the financialization of the economy. This results in the proliferation of unproductive o...
