Part 2/11:
The Cobra Effect is a fascinating parable that illustrates the unintended consequences of well-intentioned policies gone wrong, especially within economic and environmental contexts. The story's origins date back to the British Raj in India, where the colonial government, concerned about the rising population of venomous cobras in Delhi, decided to implement a bounty system. For every dead cobra brought in, citizens would receive compensation. Initially, the program appeared successful as thousands of cobras were claimed, but paradoxically, the population didn't decline. Instead, the incentive led some individuals to breed cobras to capitalize on the bounty system. Once this manipulation was recognized, the program was canceled, resulting in an even greater number of cobras than before.