Why would anyone want to hire a middleman, like someone to get your groceries, especially if you have time to take care of the planning and shopping yourself? On today’s episode, my guest Marina Krakovsky discusses her book The Middleman Economy. Marina shatters old stigmas about middlemen of yesteryear, explaining why some middlemen have disappeared while many others have gained in importance. She offers clear suggestions about what today’s businesses must do to make technological progress work for them, not against them. On the show, you’ll hear Marina’s opinion that despite predictions that the internet would destroy the need for middlemen, she argues they're more valuable than ever though their roles have changed.