Tyranny of small decisions

The tyranny of small decisions is a phenomenon in which a number of decisions, individually small and insignificant in size and time perspective, cumulatively result in a larger and significant outcome which is neither optimal nor desired. The concept was first explored in an essay of the same name, published in 1966 by the American economist Alfred E. Kahn.[1] The article describes a situation where a series of small, individually rational decisions can negatively change the context of subsequent choices, even to the point where desired alternatives are irreversibly destroyed. Kahn described the problem as a common issue in market economics which can lead to market failure.[1] The concept has since been extended to areas other than economic ones, such as environmental degradation,[2] political elections[3] and health outcomes.[4]

  1. ^ a b Kahn, Alfred E. (1966). "The Tyranny of Small Decisions: Market Failures, Imperfections, and the Limits of Economics". Kyklos. 19: 23–47. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6435.1966.tb02491.x.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Odum was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Burnell, Peter (2002). "Zambia's 2001 Elections: The Tyranny of Small Decisions, 'Non-Decisions' and 'Not Decisions'". Third World Quarterly. 23 (6): 1103–1120. doi:10.1080/0143659022000036630. JSTOR 3993565. S2CID 154739000.
  4. ^ Bickel WK and Marsch LA (2000) "The Tyranny of Small Decisions: Origins, Outcomes, and Proposed Solutions" Chapter 13 in Bickel WK and Vuchinich RE (2000) Reframing health behavior change with behavioral economics, Routledge. ISBN 978-0-8058-2733-0.