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Spring 2019

ISSN 0890-913X

Volume 34, Number 1

Categories: Spring 2019 | Hierarchy

The Role of Hierarchy in the Production of Salvation Goods

Zachary J. Gochenour, James Madison University

John A. Robinson, James Madison University

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TheJournalofPrivateEnterprise34(1),2019,103–116TheRoleofHierarchyintheProductionofSalvationGoodsZacharyJ.GochenourJamesMadisonUniversityJohnA.RobinsonJamesMadisonUniversity______________________________________________________AbstractWearguethatintheproductionofcertaintypesofgoods,hierarchymaybebeneficialorevennecessarytomaintainqualityandconsistency.Toillustrate,weinvestigatehowthehierarchicalformoftheRomanCatholicChurchhasprovidedreligious“goods”forthousandsofyearsandcomparesfavorablytoothermodesofproduction.WhiletheChurchfrequentlyclashedwiththeforcesof“liberalism,”ithasmaintainedthatitshierarchicalstructuresupportsfreedomofadifferentsort—freedomfromexternalcorruption.Webelievethehierarchicalstructurehasmostlysucceededinprovidingthatfreedom.Hierarchyisalsointendedtopromotegoodreputation,addressingtheuncertaintyinvolvedwithsalvationgoodsandfreeingconsumerstomakesymmetricallyinformedchoices.Wefurtherarguethatorganizationalhierarchiesinmoderncorporationshavegoalsthatsharesimilarfeatures.______________________________________________________JELCodes:L2,Z12Keywords:hierarchy,religion,reputationI.IntroductionEconomistsgenerallyandjustifiablysingthepraisesofdecentralizedmarketsformaximizingconsumerwelfare.FollowingCoase(1937),wefindthatwithinthemarketenvironmentarefirmsthatarepocketsofcentralplanning.Theyaretypicallyorganizedwitharigidhierarchicalstructureandalmostneverusepricesforinternaldecisions.Thehierarchical,centralizednatureoffirmsshouldgiveuspauseifwebelievethatdecentralizedmarketsarenotjustefficientbutrobustandlibertyenhancinginthelongterm.Howshouldloversoflibertythinkofprivategovernancestructuresthatrelyonhierarchy?

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Title	The Role of Hierarchy in the Production of Salvation Goods
Authors/Creators:	Zachary J. Gochenour, James Madison University John A. Robinson, James Madison University
Year:	2019
Volume:	34
Number:	1
Pages:	103 - 116
Publisher:	The Association of Private Enterprise Education
ISSN:	0890-913X
Document Type:	Articles
Keywords:	hierarchy, religion, reputation

Citation:
Gochenour, Zachary J.; Robinson, John A. / 2019. "The Role of Hierarchy in the Production of Salvation Goods." The Journal of Private Enterprise, 34(1): 103-116.