The Cobra Effect

[deckardcanine]

An anecdote claims that the British in India
Offered a bounty on snakes,
Especially venomous cobras in Delhi—
A program that proved a mistake.

Some entrepreneurs did the math and discovered
The bounty would cover the costs
Of raising and breeding the snakes on a farm.
The whole goal of reduction was lost.

The government learned of the swindle and either
Reduced or rescinded the pay.
The breeders released all their snakes in the wild,
So the problem got worse by the day.

We don’t know the details; the tale might be false,
But the moral is plainly correct:
Beware of incentives beyond your intent,
Lest they lead to “the cobra effect.”