The Balloon Effect

The 'balloon effect' is most often an analogy used in drug policy. When you squeeze a balloon, you displace air, which bulges out elsewhere. When policy makers and law enforcement crack down on drug production and trafficking in one area, drug production and trafficking simply move to another area outside of law enforcement control. Essentially, the balloon effect refers to moving a problem around rather than actually solving it (see The biggest problem with the war on drugs, explained in one video).

You could argue that this concept also applies to U.S. policy on social services – lower spending on . . .