Final answer:
The practice of a chief collecting and then redistributing goods to followers based on their rank is called redistribution, a common economic strategy in centralized societies such as chiefdoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The practice described, where a chief collects goods from followers and then disperses them according to their rank, is known as redistribution.
This economic strategy is often utilized in centralized societies such as chiefdoms where the ranking and stratification of individuals within the society play a significant role in determining the distribution of goods and services.
Chiefs are at the center of this process, using their control over economic resources to maintain power and authority, engaging in activities such as regulating trade, controlling prestige goods, and organizing community efforts like building infrastructure and performing rituals for the community's benefit.
Over time, these roles can become hereditary as chiefs pass on their positions to their kin, further consolidating their power within the society.