Unintended Consequences

Abstract

Any action to manipulate a system to produce a desired outcome can generate one or more unintended consequences. We all know that a number of powerful and effective drugs for reducing or curing disease also produce harmful side effects. While scarcity and high cost of food has led to malnutrition and starvation in many underdeveloped economies, solving of food problem is leading to obesity and other related ailments. With proper application of system knowledge, we can reduce or eliminate such negative consequences. However, not all unintended consequences are bad, as is the case with aspirin, which was originally used for pain relief but was later found to be an anticoagulant that reduces the possibility of heart attack.

The chapter offers many examples of unintended negative and positive outcomes of our actions. They range from cobra effect to iron ore mining boom in Australia. The chapter ends with a discussion on ways to minimize or eliminate these unintended consequences.