The cobra effect occurs when an attempted solution to a problem actually makes the problem worse. This is an instance of unintended consequences. The term is used to illustrate the causes of incorrect stimulation in economy and politics.
“眼睛蛇效果”指的是之前嘗試解決問題的措施最終卻使問題惡化。這是一種意外后果的例證,用來說明在經(jīng)濟和政治上的不正確刺激的成因。
The term cobra effect stems from an anecdote set at the time of British rule of colonial India. The British government was concerned about the number of venomous cobra snakes in Delhi. The government therefore offered a bounty for every dead cobra. Initially this was a successful strategy as large numbers of snakes were killed for the reward. Eventually, however, enterprising people began to breed cobras for the income.
這個詞來源于英國殖民印度時期的一樁軼事。英國政府非常擔心德里有毒的眼鏡蛇的數(shù)量問題,因此按照每人上交的死蛇數(shù)量發(fā)給獎金。最初這個辦法很成功,人們?yōu)榱藸幍锚劷饸⑺懒撕芏嘌坨R蛇。但最終,有膽量的印度人開始養(yǎng)殖眼鏡蛇來掙錢。
When the government became aware of this, the reward program was scrapped, causing the cobra breeders to set the now-worthless snakes free. As a result, the wild cobra population further increased. The apparent solution for the problem made the situation even worse.
英國政府意識到這一點時,就停止發(fā)放獎金,導致眼鏡蛇養(yǎng)殖者把不值錢的眼鏡蛇放生。所以野生眼鏡蛇的數(shù)量反而更多了。表面上為了解決問題而采取的措施,反而使得問題更糟。