This concept is one of the building blocks of economics. The term was coined and popularised in the 20th century. Its use has expanded into a range of contexts.
The idea of unintended consequences dates back at least to the 18th century when Adam Smith wrote about men who are "led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his invention".
American sociologist Robert K. Merton invented the phrase in 1936.
There are three types of unintended consequences:
Possible causes of unanticipated consequences include
There are examples and kinds of unanticipated consequences:
Cheaper travel, mostly in the form of air transport, is hugely beneficial to the economy by increasing tourism into a country. It accounts for 30% of the world's trade of services, and 6% of overall exports of goods and services. It also creates opportunities for employment in the services needed for tourism.
With increased tourism comes a variety of unlooked-for problems, such as increased illegal immigration. Perhaps even more serious is that returning tourists may bring back parasites and diseases which are not usual in the home country. Furthermore, many of these organisms are now resistant to most treatment.
Good Will Hunting
Good Will Hunting is a 1997 American drama movie directed by Gus Van Sant, written by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, and stars Robin Williams, Damon (who played the eponymous role), Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård and Minnie Driver. Filming in Boston, Massachusetts. it was released on December 5, 1997.
San Miguel River (Ecuador)
San Miguel River is a river in Ecuador and Peru. It forms an international border between the two countries.
Mock the Week
Mock the Week is a British topical celebrity comedy panel game. It was created by Dan Patterson and Mark Leveson. It is presented by Dara Ó Briain. It began on 5 June 2005 and is shown BBC Two. Two teams of three celebrities compete to answer questions about events during the past week. Its current regular panel member is comedian Hugh Dennis. Comedians Chris Addison, Rory Bremner, Frankie Boyle, Russell Howard and Andy Parsons previously served as regular panel members.
Quasi-War
The Quasi-War was an undeclared naval war fought between the United States and the French Republic between 1798 and 1801.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions
The road to hell is paved with good intentions is an idiom or proverb. It is about the difference between what someone intends to do and what they actually do. In other words, the road to failure is made easier by good intentions.
In the mid-12th century, Bernard of Clairvaux wrote, ""L'enfer est plein de bonnes volontés et désirs"" (hell is full of good wishes and desires). The sentence has been repeated many times in other languages and contexts.
In 1775, Samuel Johnson commented on "the unhappy failure of resolves" when he is reported saying, "Sir, hell is paved with good intentions."
Heckler &amp; Koch G11
G11 is a German assault rifle. It was invented by Heckler & Koch in the years between 1968 and 1990. It is able to shoot in semi automatic, or single shot, 3 round burst, or full auto. The magazine held 45 or 50 of the 4,73mm caseless rounds. The German army (Bundeswehr) and the US Army tested the weapon but they didn't want it because it was too expensive after the Cold War. So it stayed to be a prototype and never got into mass production.
Rate of fire
Rate of fire is how fast a weapon can fire or launch its projectiles. It is usually measured in rounds per minute (RPM or round/min), or per second (RPS or round/s). Pistols usually have a very slow RPM, which large machine guns may get up to 1000 RPM. The "M61 Vulcan", a gatling-gun, could fire around 6000 RPM in tests.
The Death of Socrates (painting)
The Death of Socrates () is a 1787 oil on canvas painting by the French painter Jacques-Louis David.
It shows the death of Greek philosopher Socrates. He was sentenced to die by drinking hemlock. He was sentenced to die because his ideas were against those of Athens. It was also for corrupting the minds of the youth. The painting also shows both Crito and Plato. Crito is sitting sadly at the edge of the bed. Plato is holding the knee of Socrates. Socrates had the choice to go into exile or be sentenced to death by drinking hemlock. Socrates chose death. In this painting, a red-robed disciple hands a confident Socrates the goblet of hemlock. Socrates' hand pointing to the heavens is his love of the gods and fearless attitude to his death.
This painting is currently at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Ernest Solvay
Ernest Gaston Joseph Solvay (16 April 1838 – 26 May 1922) was a Belgian chemist, industrialist, politician and philanthropist.
In 1861, he made the ammonia-soda process to make soda ash. The process was an improvement over the earlier Leblanc process.
He founded the company Solvay & Cie. The first factory was at Couillet in 1863. Soon, Solvay process plants were in the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and Austria. Today, about 70 Solvay process plants are still working worldwide.
In 1903, he founded the Solvay Business School which is part of the Free University of Brussels.
He elected two times to the Belgian Senate. He was Minister of State at the end of his life. Solvay, New York and Rosignano Solvay, the locations of the first Solvay process plants in the United States and in Italy, are named after him.
Solvay died at Ixelles.
Simon Stevin
Simon Stevin (1548/49 – 1620) was a Flemish mathematician and military engineer. He translated many mathematical terms into Dutch.
Stevin was born in Bruges, Flanders (now Belgium) around the year 1548. It is thought that Simon was a Calvinist. Very little has been recorded about his life. It is known that he left a widow with two children.
In Bruges there is a Simon Stevin Square which has his statue by Eugène Simonis.
Zenobe Gramme
Zénobe Théophile Gramme (4 April 1826, Amay - 20 January 1901) was a Belgian electrical engineer. He invented the Gramme machine. The Gramme machine was a type of direct current dynamo. It made smoother (less AC) and much higher voltages than other dynamos.
Gramme machine
A Gramme machine, Gramme ring, Gramme magneto, or Gramme dynamo is an electrical generator that makes direct current. It is named for its Belgian inventor, Zénobe Gramme. It was the first generator to make enough power for industry. Gramme showed this machine to the Academy of Sciences in Paris in 1871.
Russell Brand's Ponderland
Russell Brand's Ponderland is a British comedy television programme. It is presented by Russell Brand and was first shown on Channel 4 in 2007 and 2008. Brand talks about a different topic in each episode, showing clips of archive footage and commenting on them.
Bakelite
Bakelite, or polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, is an early plastic. It is a thermosetting phenol formaldehyde resin, formed from an elimination reaction of phenol with formaldehyde. It was made in 1907 by Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland.
Bakelite was used for its electrically nonconductivity and heat-resistant properties in electrical insulators, radio and telephone casings. It was also in products as kitchenware, jewelry, pipe stems, and children's toys.
Phil Esposito
Philip Anthony Esposito, OC (born February 20, 1942 ) is a former Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Chicago Black Hawks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. He is an Honoured Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. It is said he is one of the best players in the National Hockey League. Phil is the older brother of Tony Esposito. Tony is a goaltender and he is also a Hall-of-Famer.
After retiring as a player, Esposito was head coach and general manager for the New York Rangers. Then he started the Tampa Bay Lightning. He worked for the NHL on Fox from 1995 to 1998. He is now Tampa Bay's radio announcer.
Leo Baekeland