Goodhart’s Law: Soviet Nail Factories & The Power of Incentives

The Soviet Union had a shortage of nails during Lenin’s time. To increase production, his government started giving bonuses to the factories for the number of nails they produce. After hearing about the bonus, the factories reduced the size of the nails to produce as many nails as possible. In the end, they met the targets and…

Parkinson’s Law Meaning, Examples, and How to Overcome It

Parkinson’s Law means that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. Imagine you have two weeks to complete a project.  How likely would you deliver the task earlier than the deadline? If your answer is not likely, you’re not alone. Because even if the project with a two-week deadline could be finished in three…

What Is Argumentum Ad Populum (And How To Question It)

Argumentum ad populum (Latin for “appeal to the people”) is a fallacy when people accept what is popular as true without logical reasoning. We live in a world of arguments. Some arguments shape how we make decisions and how we live without us realizing it. Especially when the majority accepts one as the norm. A…