Leverage Points: Places to Intervene in a System

Donella Meadows ranks twelve places to intervene in a complex system, from least to most powerful. Most people push on the weakest leverage points — adjusting parameters like tax rates or subsidies — while the strongest leverage points are paradigm shifts, system goals, and the power of self-organization. The essay is the single best short introduction to systems thinking and explains why well-intentioned interventions so often fail or backfire.