Unintended Consequences Research Articles

Paradoxes of the late modern emotional regime, as illustrated by the gaming industry

This article explores the increasing interest in the role of emotions in the late modern working world. We examine how emotional regimes are characterised and which unintended consequences accompany the set of normative emotions. We illustrate this with the example of the German gaming industry, which is seen as being at the vanguard of the late modern world of work. Our aim is to show that this is a multifaceted but (organisation-)specific emotional regime. We use selected qualitative data material from the DFG project ‘The regime of emotions as a strategy? An analysis of economic subfields – emotions, emotional capital and gender in the late modern working world’ (duration 2020–2024). With reference to Patulny and Olson (2019), we examine the emotions that define this specific emotional regime, which prove to be (1) complex and ambivalent, (2) individualised, (3) commodified and (4) digitally mediated. Another relevant element of the emotional regime is (5) reflexive emotional management. We illustrate that late modern emotional regimes create paradoxes such as the passion for game development and the unquestioned acceptance of overtime, which can lead to exhaustion. We also reveal prevailing gender inequalities, which are often not immediately obvious in the seemingly egalitarian gaming industry.

Modern Revolution and Its Restorative Logic: Burke, Tocqueville, and Marx

ABSTRACT This article examines the views of Burke, Tocqueville, and Marx on the nature and extent of modern revolution and its restorative logic. I argue that, while all three supported the introduction of changes in society, they differed on how to steer the course of such changes, which resulted in a peculiar meaning of modern revolution. Each of them proposed good and bad versions of modern revolution, offered specific ways of protecting the good versions from producing perverse effects, and warned against the ugly consequences of a failed revolution. Burke’s conservative revolution favored incremental change against radical social transformations. Contra Burke, Tocqueville acclaimed the egalitarian tendency as a preordained path and advocated democratic revolutions insofar as political liberty could be rescued from the ills of social equality. Marx drew the possibilities of a proletarian revolution from the future the history of class conflicts had prepared. Particularly in his later works, Marx rejected Blanqui’s abortive version of conspiratorial revolution and social revolution without democratization. Overall, each of these thinkers—Burke, Tocqueville, and Marx—reconciled political and social revolutions in their own way, acknowledging that in order to prevent social and moral decay, modern revolutions inevitably gravitate to the Christian logic of restoration.

Detailed phenotyping of Tbr1-2A-CreER knock-in mice demonstrates significant impacts on TBR1 protein levels and axon development.

Cre recombinase knock-in mouse lines have served as invaluable genetic tools for understanding key developmental processes altered in autism. However, insertion of exogenous DNA into the genome can have unintended effects on local gene regulation or protein function that must be carefully considered. Here, we analyze a recently generated Tbr1-2A-CreER knock-in mouse line, where a 2A-CreER cassette was inserted in-frame before the stop codon of the transcription factor gene Tbr1. Heterozygous TBR1 mutations in humans and mice are known to cause autism or autism-like behavioral phenotypes accompanied by structural brain malformations, most frequently a reduction of the anterior commissure (AC). Thus, it is critical for modified versions of Tbr1 to exhibit true wild-type-like activity. We evaluated the Tbr1-2A-CreER allele for its potential impact on Tbr1 function and complementation to Tbr1 loss-of-function alleles. In mice with one copy of the Tbr1-2A-CreER allele, we identified reduction of TBR1 protein in early postnatal cortex along with thinning of the AC, suggesting hypersensitivity of this structure to TBR1 dosage. Comparing Tbr1-2A-CreER and Tbr1-null mice to Tbr1-null complementation crosses showed reductions of TBR1 dosage ranging from 20% to 100%. Using six combinatorial genotypes, we found that moderate to severe TBR1 reductions (≥44%) were associated with cortical layer 5 expansion, while only the complete absence of TBR1 was associated with reeler-like "inverted" cortical layering. In total, these results strongly support the conclusion that Tbr1-2A-CreER is a hypomorphic allele. We advise caution when interpreting experiments using this allele, considering the sensitivity of various corticogenic processes to TBR1 dosage and the association of heterozygous TBR1 mutations with complex neurodevelopmental disorders.

Learning-by-doing: an insight worthy of the pantheon and how to do it in teams

Abstract In this paper, I pick up on an important theme in Mario Rizzo’s work: that rationality should be understood more broadly than the rational choice model as learning to adjust behaviour in the light of experience and the mistakes that it yields. In particular, I focus on learning-by-doing (LBD). I argue in the first part of the paper that it should be regarded as one of the central insights in economics, alongside those that are more usually recognised like the gains from trade and the importance of unintended consequences. I use Smith and Hirschman’s discussion of LBD to ground this claim. In the second part of the paper, I turn to the determinants of LBD in teams. I argue that the key rule or constitutional/policy design question is how best to embrace the diversity that is central to LBD within teams without this undermining the social origins of co-operation in teams.

Unintended Consequences of Data Sharing Under the Meaningful Use Program.

Interoperability has been designed to improve the quality and efficiency of health care. It allows the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to collect data on quality measures as a part of the Meaningful Use program. Covered providers who fail to provide data have lower rates of reimbursement. Unintended consequences also arise at each step of the data collection process: (1) providers are not reimbursed for the extra time required to generate data; (2) patients do not have control over when and how their data are provided to or used by the government; and (3) large datasets increase the chances of an accidental data breach or intentional hacker attack. After detailing the issues, we describe several solutions, including an appropriate data use review board, which is designed to oversee certain aspects of the process and ensure accountability and transparency.

Lake Trafford Nutrients Budget and Influxes After Organic Sediment Dredging (South Florida, USA)

Lake Trafford, a 600-ha subtropical lake in southwestern Florida, has suffered from over 50 years of cultural eutrophication, resulting in the invasion of Hydrilla verticillata and organic sediment accumulation due to herbicide treatments. This study aimed to assess the effects of dredging on nutrient dynamics. A pre-dredging nutrient budget, developed using land use models and climatic data, estimated nutrient loads of 190 kg d−1 for total nitrogen (TN) and 18.6 kg d−1 for total phosphorus (TP), with total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) of 70.4 kg d−1 for TN and 4.15 kg d−1 for TP. Post-dredging analysis, using detailed spatiotemporal data, showed higher nutrient loads of 274.3 kg d−1 for TN and 24.2 kg d−1 for TP. While dredging reduced legacy nutrient accumulation, it led to increased nutrient influx from groundwater, caused by the exposure of organic sediment, as evidenced by increased lake water electrical conductivity. These findings demonstrate the importance of conducting thorough pre-dredging assessments to mitigate unintended consequences, offering practical insights for managing nutrient loads and improving restoration strategies in eutrophic lakes.

First direct measurements of the nitrogen isotopic composition of vehicle tailpipe-emitted NH3 and implications for the source apportionment of NH3 in urban atmosphere.

The introduction of three-way catalytic converter (TWC) to meet stringent vehicular NOx emission standards worldwide has led to an unintended consequence of vehicle-derived ammonia (NH3) emission, which might degrade air quality and affect human health, especially in urban areas. The nitrogen stable isotope composition of NH3 (δ15N-NH3) may be a useful tool to trace NH3 sources, but the isotopic signature of vehicle-emitted NH3 is lacking. Here we report the δ15N-NH3 measured from tailpipe exhausts collected directly from 19 different vehicles equipped with TWC using "grab" sample technique optimized to avoid isotopic fractionation. We found a large of range of NH3 concentration (from 1 to 37 ppm, x̄ ± 1σ = 10 ± 8 ppm) and δ15N value (from -38.1 ‰ to 49.0 ‰, x̄ ± 1σ = 1.2 ± 20.9 ‰) for our samples (n = 57). Our results indicate a correlation between δ15N-NH3 and NH3 concentrations (i.e. δ15N-NH3 (‰) = 16.9(± 2.2)In(NH3 concentration; ppm) - 31.7(± 4.7) (R2 = 0.53, P < 0.01) that is associated with the catalyst temperature, which is generally agree with the results of theoretical calculation. After consideration of the vehicle emission evolution, dominant driving condition and tunnel δ15N-NH3 variation, a representative δ15N-NH3 value (meanminmax) of vehicle source is identified as 0.8000-2.20005.2000, which is distinct from (larger than) other NH3 volatilization-related emission sources. Using our newly measured δ15N values and Bayesian mixing model, we approximate the overall contribution of vehicles to ambient NH3 before, during, and after an international event in Beijing was 14.1 %, 7.9 %, and 21.5 %, respectively, which agree well with the course of traffic restriction. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the importance of using vehicle-emitted δ15N-NH3 to quantify vehicular NH3 contribution in urban atmospheres.

“Solutions” are not the answer

Academics and policy-makers often frame their work by defining “problems” and proposing “solutions.” While this approach is effective in closed systems, where problems can be clearly defined, we critique its application to open systems, where such clarity is not possible. We highlight how narrowly framed “solutions” can lead to unintended consequences and policy incoherence when applied to open systems, and advocate for a rhetorical shift from “problems and solutions” to “challenges and responses.” This reframing acknowledges the dialectical nature of interacting with open systems and encourages decision-makers to engage in a continuous and evolving praxis, where challenges are addressed iteratively, rather than problems being solved once and for all. We argue that this approach is more realistic, avoiding the pitfalls of short-term solutionism by promoting a more holistic and ongoing engagement with complex, open systems.

Proof of Concept of ChatGPT as a Virtual Tutor.

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and perceived value of an instructor-developed ChatGPT-based virtual tutor for third year PharmD students in a pharmacy management course. The objectives were to assess faculty time required to develop the tool and to analyze student engagement and perception of its educational value. The virtual tutor was developed by the instructor and consisted of custom ChatGPT prompts deployed via the course's learning management system. Development metrics were documented, including time invested and iterations needed for prompt refinement. A post-use questionnaire evaluated student uptake and experience, which included frequency of use, perceived value for learning and exam preparation, and overall satisfaction. The development of the virtual tutor required a total of 119minutes, demonstrating a feasible time investment. Ninety-two of 130 students completed the questionnaire for a 70% response rate. Sixty-one students (66%) engaged with the tutor, with varying degrees of use. Most students (82%) reported increased confidence for exams, and 99% acknowledged enhanced understanding of the course material through the tutor. The virtual tutor proved to be a feasible educational tool with considerable student uptake and satisfaction. It offered a time-efficient alternative for educational support, potentially reducing the need for traditional face-to-face tutoring. The study highlights the effectiveness and practicality of ChatGPT as a virtual tutor in pharmacy education, but further research should explore its application across different content areas as well as potential unintended consequences.

How do emoticons affect youth social interaction? The impact of emoticon use on youths online interpersonal interactions

Emoticons are non-verbal symbols that are employed during online interactions, and they constitute an integral component of online interpersonal communication. The influence of emoticons on the online interpersonal interactions of young people was investigated through in-depth interviews with 25 young people who utilize emoticons to a moderate or significant extent. The study identified three key aspects through which the impact of emoticons on youth’s online social interactions is manifested. Firstly, this is reflected in the level of emotion and meaning conveyed. The utilization of emoticons by young people has, to a certain extent, rectified the contextual limitation of “embodied absence” in online virtual social interaction. Secondly, this is reflected in young people’s recognition of emoticons. The use of emoticons by young people in online social interactions has led to the formation of a distinct “emoticon community.” This phenomenon not only facilitates the development of a more profound social identity among young people in online social interactions but also contributes to the expansion of the adolescent network, resulting in the emergence of a novel “social divide.” Thirdly, the use of emoticons by young people can be seen to contribute to a sense of alienation. As young people become increasingly reliant on emoticons, their influence is gradually extending from the digital realm to the physical world, impacting the normal social interactions of young people in real life. Emoticons have gradually become a means of facilitating young people’s online socialization, but they have also had the unintended consequence of limiting their normal social interaction. The deterioration of online interpersonal communication among young people is a key factor in the symbolic generalization and alienation of expression in the use of emoticons by this demographic.

Complexity meets flexibility: unintended differentiation in EU public procurement

ABSTRACT The expansion of European Union (EU) regulations often hampers effective policy implementation in the member states. However, little is known about how these diverse states navigate and apply the complex rules in practice, and with what consequences. This study addresses this gap by examining how the 2014 EU public procurement directives impacted procurement practices across the Union. Using a difference-in-difference design, we find that the EU's goals of harmonisation and competition were undermined in practice. First, we observe a rise in single-bid contracts across EU countries compared to non-EU countries, undermining competition. Second, we demonstrate a growing divergence in policy implementation, where member states with varying administrative capacities and corruption risks display different rates of single bids. Third, we show that while a few Eastern European countries with poor procurement records embraced the flexibility to award contracts based on the most economically advantageous tender, Nordic countries largely avoided this flexibility. This divergence raises concerns that the new EU rules have brought about new corruption risks. These findings have important implications, underscoring the unintended consequences of expanding complex and flexible regulations, revealing that efforts to harmonise the internal market can backfire, leading to increased differentiated policy implementation across the member states.

Limitations of trust and legitimacy in blockchain: exploring the effectiveness of decentralisation, immutability and consensus mechanisms in blockchain governance

PurposeThis paper examines to what extent blockchain creates legitimacy and trust in different modes of public governance. It posits that while blockchain aims for political legitimacy through decentralising, immutable and consensus-based mechanisms, the execution of these mechanisms is limited in legitimating governance, which has knock-on effects on trust. It provides an original contribution by recontextualising and reframing blockchain as a governance mechanism that should, and must, perform a legitimating function in order to engender trust.Design/methodology/approachThe research adopts a comprehensive framework for understanding the legitimacy of blockchain governance, positioning it in terms of co-governance, self-governance and hierarchical governance modes. It systematically analyses blockchain whitepapers, legislation, government documents and other sources in three paradigmatic case studies where blockchain governance failed. These cases are then used to assess blockchain according to three key characteristics of decentralisation, immutability and consensus.FindingsThe research finds that blockchain’s use in governance settings still relies on legitimacy conferred from other sources – namely state – in order to generate trust. Significant limitations in its de facto political decentralisation, immutability and consensus protocols can create failures in co-governance, self-governance and hierarchical-governance applications, thus limiting the legitimation function of blockchain in facilitating political trust.Originality/valueThese findings are significant in highlighting blockchain’s limitations as a decentralised, immutable and consensus-driven legitimating tool, which has knock-on effects on trust in technology and governance more broadly. It also has broader implications in more clearly highlighting the interconnectedness of political trust and legitimacy in governance processes.

Audio description for all? The benefits and concerns of extending access provision to sighted people

AbstractAudio description (AD) is an established part of museums' access programs for blind and partially blind (BPB) people. This paper explores the merits and caveats regarding “AD for all”, rolling out the provision for sighted people as well. It draws from four separate Access All Senses (AAS) events in three different London museums, each conducted under slightly different conditions. In addition to collecting nearly 100 audience feedback forms, this study has involved museum access staff, audio describers, and BPB art lovers. These events demonstrate that there is a demand among sighted people to include AD in museum tours as “guided looking”. The main concern regards the unintended consequences that could threaten the specific provision that BPB people need. A brief survey at the end offers examples of museum initiatives where AD is being rolled out while protecting these interests.

Recommendations for Clinicians, Technologists, and Healthcare Organizations on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Medicine: A Position Statement from the Society of General Internal Medicine.

Generative artificial intelligence (generative AI) is a new technology with potentially broad applications across important domains of healthcare, but serious questions remain about how to balance the promise of generative AI against unintended consequences from adoption of these tools. In this position statement, we provide recommendations on behalf of the Society of General Internal Medicine on how clinicians, technologists, and healthcare organizations can approach the use of these tools. We focus on three major domains of medical practice where clinicians and technology experts believe generative AI will have substantial immediate and long-term impacts: clinical decision-making, health systems optimization, and the patient-physician relationship. Additionally, we highlight our most important generative AI ethics and equity considerations for these stakeholders. For clinicians, we recommend approaching generative AI similarly to other important biomedical advancements, critically appraising its evidence and utility and incorporating it thoughtfully into practice. For technologists developing generative AI for healthcare applications, we recommend a major frameshift in thinking away from the expectation that clinicians will "supervise" generative AI. Rather, these organizations and individuals should hold themselves and their technologies to the same set of high standards expected of the clinical workforce and strive to design high-performing, well-studied tools that improve care and foster the therapeutic relationship, not simply those that improve efficiency or market share. We further recommend deep and ongoing partnerships with clinicians and patients as necessary collaborators in this work. And for healthcare organizations, we recommend pursuing a combination of both incremental and transformative change with generative AI, directing resources toward both endeavors, and avoiding the urge to rapidly displace the human clinical workforce with generative AI. We affirm that the practice of medicine remains a fundamentally human endeavor which should be enhanced by technology, not displaced by it.

Taxes under stress: bank stress tests and corporate tax planning

PurposeThis paper aims to examine how bank stress tests affect bank tax planning.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses US bank stress test bank size thresholds and a regression discontinuity design to investigate the effect of the Dodd-Frank Act and the instituted bank stress tests on bank tax planning. We use different measures of tax planning, including bank-specific measures and measures of tax avoidance, tax aggressiveness, and effective tax planning from recent literature. Our regression discontinuity and difference-in-differences regression analyses include bank and year fixed-effects and lagged bank characteristics to control for potential endogeneity.FindingsThis study finds that stress tests have the unintended consequences of intensifying tax planning and increasing tax avoidance. Stress-test banks increase tax avoidance by accelerating charge-offs, net interest, and non-interest expenses. However, this increase in tax planning is not optimally maximized, leading to lower effective tax planning compared to non-stress-test banks. Banks with a substantial increase in tax avoidance under the Dodd–Frank Act tend to increase their risk, investing in high-risk-weight assets and lending in riskier loan categories. These findings are consistent with tax minimization conditions under added regulatory attention and policy uncertainty.Originality/valueLiterature on bank tax planning is limited. Most tax avoidance literature excludes financial institutions such as bank holding companies mainly due to differences in business practices and regulatory frameworks. This study is the first to investigate tax planning behavior among US banks. The current study thus extends the research field by examining the effect of bank transparency regulations, such as bank stress tests, on bank tax planning activities. Our findings have a direct bank policy implication. They show that stress testing has the unintended consequences of increasing tax planning activities and consequently increasing risk-taking on banks with high tax avoidance, which goes against the goals of stress testing regulations.

Researcher identities and values in the impact agenda: the case of artificial intelligence academics

AbstractA major shift in the research sector has been the increased expectation from policymakers and funders that academic research should yield some socioeconomic benefits or ‘impacts’ rather than merely new knowledge. In this paper, we explore the role that impact has in academics’ motivations and values and how impact is being integrated into academics’ core functions of research and education. We do this through in-depth interviews (n = 60) with scientists who work on the development or application of artificial intelligence (AI), broadly defined. This AI’s focus situates our participants within a strategically important, high-priority area of research for all three national contexts included in our study—Australia, the UK and the USA. Our findings reveal that the impact mission has become central to understanding the motivations and values of academics, but unevenly. We identify divergence between those who work on AI from a foundational computer science perspective and those who develop and apply AI within other scientific domains. The two groups have different understandings of key notions such as ‘impact’ and ‘applied research’, as well as different ways of integrating the impact agenda into their research and education activities. The study highlights the importance of flexible approaches to research policy and governance that are based on a deeper understanding of what motivates researchers, and that take into account academics’ educational role. Greater holistic understanding of how academic identities and practices are accommodating the impact agenda is essential to maximise synergy across activities and avoid unintended consequences.

Excess Mortality Estimation

Estimating the mortality associated with a specific mortality crisis event (for example, a pandemic, natural disaster, or conflict) is clearly an important public health undertaking. In many situations, deaths may be directly or indirectly attributable to the mortality crisis event, and both contributions may be of interest. The totality of the mortality impact on the population (direct and indirect deaths) includes the knock-on effects of the event, such as a breakdown of the health care system, or increased mortality due to shortages of resources. Unfortunately, estimating the deaths directly attributable to the event is frequently problematic. Hence, the excess mortality, defined as the difference between the observed mortality and that which would have occurred in the absence of the crisis event, is an estimation target. If the region of interest contains a functioning vital registration system, so that the mortality is fully observed and reliable, then the only modeling required is to produce the expected deaths counts, but this is a nontrivial exercise. In low- and middle-income countries it is common for there to be incomplete (or nonexistent) mortality data, and one must then use additional data and/or modeling, including predicting mortality using auxiliary variables. We describe and review each of these aspects, give examples of excess mortality studies, and provide a case study on excess mortality across states of the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Looking beyond relative age to understand relative advantage and disadvantage in talent development

In this perspective article, we argue for a broader consideration of relative advantages and disadvantages in youth sport; a lens that considers the complex biopsychosocial factors that influence athlete development beyond relative age. We begin with a brief overview of Relative Age Effects (RAEs), with a particular focus on the proposed underlying mechanisms, followed by a discussion of the cultural and organisational considerations and implications that talent systems must consider when implementing interventions to counteract RAEs. We conclude by proposing key directions for future research in respect to RAEs and talent development more broadly. We argue that there is a need to consider the highly complex nature of RAEs, but also that there are no clear solutions to the issue of RAEs in youth sports, and that proposed solutions may come with unintended consequences. This should encourage us to experiment more, not less, with diverse ways of providing meaningful sports experiences that promote learning, psychosocial development, and performance. We suggest an urgent need for greater practical and research focus on supporting coaches, as they have the greatest capacity to understand the needs of individual athletes. In addition, systemically working towards equal access to skilful coaches. We encourage a shift in focus beyond descriptive methodologies of RAEs toward transformative research methodologies that include action-based research, complex interventions that incorporate context-sensitive qualitative methods, and other participatory research approaches.

Unintended consequences of maternity leave entitlements on female labor market outcomes in China

This study provides the first empirical evidence of the impact of maternity leave entitlements on labor market outcomes for women of childbearing age in urban China. We exploit a reform during which approximately two-thirds of the provinces in China extended their leave entitlements from 2014 to 2016 and employ a triple-difference strategy to deal with the identification. The results suggest unintended effects, as leave entitlement extensions led to a reduction in the likelihood of working, formal employment, and wage for women of childbearing age relative to their counterparts. We further establish that greater reliance on employer liability may be the main mechanism behind the unintended effects, highlighting the importance of payment schemes. This study provides novel evidence and mechanisms for the labor market effect of maternity leave in women of childbearing age and provides new insights for maternity leave related policy designs.

Alienation That Continues: Changpas—A Borderland Community

The Ladakh region of India has been recently in the limelight due to border tension between India and China. The differing perception of borders and vague demarcation has led to contested claims in the Ladakh region. India and China have fought a war (1962) and are presently engaged in intermittent skirmishes in the Ladakh region. Following the conflict, the borderland of Ladakh witnessed increased troop presence in the area, which created problems for the Changpas, a semi-nomadic community of Ladakh that is primarily dependent on available natural resources for survival. The political tension between India and China leads to the militarisation of the region and restrictions on the movement of Changpas near the borders. These have unintended consequences for the borderland community. The areas with counter-territorial claims include pastures for grazing the herds, and due to the dispute, the Changpas cannot access them. As a result, Changpas suffer economically and socially. While there is much discussion on the India and China border dispute in the region and beyond, the Changpas hardly get required attention in the mainstream debate. Drawing from Border Studies, this article argues that Changpas are an alienated borderland community. Changpas, because of their semi-nomadic lifestyles, lack an agency to highlight their plight or to articulate demands. This article underlines the ordeals of Changpas to present how border communities in conflict zones are compelled to adopt a life forced by circumstances and controlled by external actors.