This is the classic tradeoff. (it's similar to the bias variance tradeoff, or fox and hedgehog analogy) Monolithic systems are scalable and efficient when well

This is the classic tradeoff. (it's similar to the bias variance tradeoff, or fox and hedgehog analogy) Monolithic systems are scalable and efficient when well-governed, but brittle under errors or bad leadership (e.g. China closing its ports in the 14th century had centuries-long repercussions). Distributed systems are less efficient but more resilient to errors and poor governance. It’s not always one or the other though. American founding fathers found a right set of tradeoffs in designing checks and balances (like separation of powers) and federalism structures that harden the system against bad governance (though this is under strain today).