Topics
Unintended Consequences
Unintended consequences are outcomes that are not foreseen and intended by a purposeful action when a policy is introduced. In government intervention in markets there is usually at least one and often many unintended consequence. This is partly because economics is a social science and we cannot predict accurately how producers and consumers will react to an intervention
Unintended consequences can be positive in the sense that the unintended behaviours make things better than forecast
Unintended consequences are outcomes that are not the ones intended by a particular action or decision. These consequences can be positive or negative, and they can occur in a variety of different contexts, including social, economic, and political.
Unintended consequences can arise from a variety of sources, including incomplete or inadequate analysis, incomplete understanding of a problem or system, or the complexity of the system in which the action or decision takes place. It is often difficult to predict or identify unintended consequences in advance, and they can have significant impacts on individuals, groups, and society as a whole.
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4.1.8.10 Government Failure (AQA A-Level Economics Teaching PowerPoint)
Teaching PowerPoints
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1.1.1 Economics as a Social Science (Edexcel)
Study Notes
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What are unintended consequences in economics?
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Law of Unintended Consequences
Topic Videos
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Evaluating Government Intervention
Exam Support
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Evaluating government intervention
18th April 2018
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Government intervention - Paris announces car ban for central districts
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UK government offers consumer subsidy for heat pumps
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Maximum prices - Why rent control isn’t working in Sweden
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Pigouvian Taxes - Beyond Meat boss backs tax on meat consumption
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Government Failure - Topical Examples
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Economics of NHS Car Parking Charges
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Revision Presentation on Government Failure
Teaching PowerPoints
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Minimum Prices - 2021 Revision Update
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Market Failure and Government Intervention - Head Start activity
Quizzes & Activities
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Introduction to Economics and the Operations of Markets - take the Yes/No challenge
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Unintended consequences: Does a plastic ban harm the environment?
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Should the sugar tax be scrapped?
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Market for Electric Vehicles (Revision Essay Plan)
Practice Exam Questions
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Key Micro Diagrams (Government Intervention)
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Synoptic Economics Revision - Solar Energy Policy
Exam Support
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Energy Price Cap - Analysis and Evaluation Arguments
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Rent Controls - Analysis and Evaluation points
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Plastic Bottle Tax (Chain of Analysis)
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Minimum Alcohol Pricing (Revision Essay Plan)
Practice Exam Questions
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Government Failure
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Unintended consequences of setting targets
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Policies to Improve Food Affordability (Revision Essay Plan)
Practice Exam Questions
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Elasticity of Demand in Action: Sugary Drink Demand and Higher Prices
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Uberisation - what are the consequences?
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Unintended Consequences in Development Economics
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Unintended consequences of cigarette packaging rules
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Government regulation: minimum wage and the homecare industry
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Unintended consequences of the 5p bag charge
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