Middlemen play a crucial role in the economy, contrary to the belief that they are merely unnecessary intermediaries. The author argues that the last 200 years have highlighted the importance of middlemen in solving coordination problems, which are essential for societal functioning and wealth generation. They enable transactions between parties who are not directly connected, manage risks, and organize collective efforts. For example, a merchant facilitates trade between distant farmers, while a manager coordinates tasks among a construction team. Without these roles, large-scale operations would face significant challenges. Historically, societies have often viewed middlemen with suspicion, relegating them to lower social hierarchies. However, as economies have grown more complex, the necessity of middlemen has become undeniable. The 20th century saw a consensus on their value, especially in capitalist economies, which have outperformed centrally planned systems. The author notes that many in the tech sector overlook the coordination role of middlemen, believing their work is more “real” than that of traditional intermediaries. In reality, much of modern tech focuses on enhancing coordination rather than replacing it. Looking ahead, the author challenges readers to consider how improvements in coordination, rather than just physical or object-level work, will drive future economic progress. There’s an emphasis on the need for thoughtful approaches to idea dissemination and the role of middlemen in this process. The call for more detailed, quantitative analyses of how society is becoming economized underscores the ongoing evolution of these roles in our increasingly complex world.