The Thing No Government Can Actually Do

Perverse Incentives! Unintended Consequences! Today we explore how governments can screw things up by confusing incentives with dictating motivation or outcomes.

Episode Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EjaNqjSABmDcLyrhiv1Ysj_vDC9b_pSIQrmK82aUzwc/edit?usp=sharing

Shownotes:

Hanoi Rats

https://theculturetrip.com/asia/vietnam/articles/the-story-behind-hanois-rat-massacre-of-1902/

Heard of Cobra Effect? Be careful what you ask for

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/stocks/news/heard-of-cobra-effect-be-careful-what-you-ask-for/articleshow/60866402.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

RHI scandal: RHI 'cash for ash' scandal to cost NI taxpayers £490m

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-38414486

Arizona Gas Tank

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/12/11/arizonas-alternative-fuel-incentives-backfire/8860ca21-b0d1-4111-8e4c-c9c985f53720/

Kennedy Tax Rate

https://www.npr.org/2013/11/12/244772593/jfks-lasting-economic-legacy-lower-tax-rates

Laffer Curve

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/08/laffer-curve.asp

Meet the Family Three Generations of Dole

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-541598/Meet-families-ones-worked-THREE-generations--dont-care.html

PBS Unintended Consequences Prohibition

https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/prohibition/unintended-consequences/

Walgreens

https://mwmblog.com/2020/11/21/top-10-unintended-consequences-of-prohibition/

The Startling Rise of Disability

https://apps.npr.org/unfit-for-work/