It may seem that vertical integration is always desirable, for who would wish to be without control? Obviously, the decision must be more complex. This section presents a decision framework for determining when a greater degree of forward vertical integration is economically (as opposed to psychologically or politically) justifiable as a function of the characteristics of the characteristics of the decision maker and its choices. This framework is stylized, designed to cut through the confusion in systematic fashion by prioritizing the issues. Not every consideration is covered: The last section of this chapter covers justifications hat are harder to defend economically but may be just as legitimate.