Words & Numbers
About this podcast
Insightful weekly commentary on news & current events from economist Antony Davies and political scientist James R. Harrigan.
Join the conversation
Benevolence Backfires: The Cobra Effect
September 4, 2019
Many proposed solutions to society’s problems produce unintended consequences. Some laws passed in good faith, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, have adverse effects on the very people they intend to help. How many laws like this are there? What do people do about them? How do businesses deal with such laws? Join James Harrigan and Antony Davies as they dive into the unforeseeable results of mixing good intentions with public policy and more on this week’s episode of Words & Numbers.
Show your support for Words & Numbers at Patreon
Quick hits
Being the victim and the perpetrator in the same case
Turning sign language into speech
Foolishness of the week
Mayor de Blasio wants to abolish gifted classes
Topic of the week: Unintended Consequences