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.

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Quick hits

Being the victim and the perpetrator in the same case

https://slate.com/technology/2019/08/maryland-sk-court-case-teen-sexting-child-pornography.html

Turning sign language into speech

https://www.blackbusiness.com/2019/05/roy-allela-black-engineer-invents-gloves-turn-sign-language-audible-speech.html?m=1&fbclid=IwAR1eM20XHy03gUnCjvwy5XjkAt69auKNhszwtYQqUJhZVrd3y1NO6tjV_II

Foolishness of the week

Mayor de Blasio wants to abolish gifted classes

https://reason.com/2019/08/28/de-blasio-advisory-group-wants-to-abolish-gifted-classes-in-nyc-public-schools/?fbclid=IwAR1NhDE1augEPuYkpFcn1yIFmCgMq0OFHM3VU4lsKWsGUgL6BggK2MhK87c

Harrison Bergeron

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Bergeron

Topic of the week: Unintended Consequences

A380 is too quiet

https://www.wired.com/2008/12/a380-is-so-quie/

The Cobra Effect

http://freakonomics.com/podcast/the-cobra-effect-a-new-freakonomics-radio-podcast/

Payday lending

https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-political-assault-on-paydays-1464909417

Americans with Disabilities Act

https://www.nber.org/papers/w6670

Bernie Sanders’ green electrical grid

https://berniesanders.com/issues/the-green-new-deal/

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