Cobra Effect: How Your Fixes BackfireThe hidden danger of simple rewards.

From the show

Clear Thinking Strategies

Learn to spot perverse incentives before they sabotage your goals. The original 'Cobra Effect' comes from a time when the British government in colonial India tried to reduce the snake population by offering a bounty. Instead, people began breeding cobras for income. When the program was canceled, the wild cobra population exploded. This principle shows how focusing on simple metrics can backfire. Before you set a new rule or reward, learn to stress-test it for loopholes people might exploit.