Tainter's Theory of Collapse

Tainter's Theory of Collapse suggests that complex societies decline and fall when the costs of maintaining that complexity exceed the benefits. As societies grow, they develop intricate social, political, and economic systems. When challenges arise—like resource depletion or external threats—these systems can become burdened and inefficient. Instead of adapting, societies may face diminishing returns, leading to collapse. Tainter argues that as societies invest in complexity to solve problems, they might inadvertently create new ones, ultimately leading to their downfall when they can no longer sustain the systems they’ve built.