Unintended Consequences

History of Strategic Errors

Decisions that seemed sound at the time. A long record of good intentions, flawed assumptions, and the consequences that followed — drawn from centuries of political, military, and economic history.

Viagra: The Failed Heart Drug That Changed Millions of Lives
Medicine1990s–present

Viagra: The Failed Heart Drug That Changed Millions of Lives

Sildenafil was developed to treat angina. It didn't work. What researchers noticed instead became one of the most recognisable medicines in the world — and then found its way back to cardiovascular medicine after all.

medicinepharmaceuticalinnovationunintended consequencessildenafil
Robert Woodland-Ferrari··8 min read
Plastics: The Convenience That Wouldn't Die
Consumer Goods20th–21st century

Plastics: The Convenience That Wouldn't Die

Plastic solved an extraordinary number of human problems. Unfortunately, we designed a material to last for decades and then used much of it to make things intended to last for minutes.

environmentconsumer goodspollutionmicroplasticsunintended consequences
Robert Woodland-Ferrari··12 min read

Examining the gap between policy intentions and real-world outcomes.

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