Suspicious Discontinuities (danluu.com)

Article summary

The article discusses how various systems and policies can create discontinuities that lead to unintended consequences, such as people trying to lose money to qualify for health insurance subsidies or prosecutors charging specific amounts of cocaine to trigger mandatory minimum sentences. These discontinuities can be found in tax policy, healthcare, education, and other areas. The article argues that smooth phase-outs or gradual changes can help mitigate these issues. The examples provided illustrate how people may exploit or be affected by these discontinuities in different contexts.

Main themes

• discontinuities in policy
• unintended consequences
• tax policy
• healthcare subsidies
• education system
• prosecutorial discretion

What commenters say

• Grouping kids by size instead of age in sports could reduce the impact of age-related discontinuities on their participation and success.
• The existence of discontinuities in systems and policies can lead to gaming and exploitation, highlighting the need for more nuanced and gradual approaches.
• Some commenters argue that the current system is unfair and that changes are needed to address issues like the wealth gap and access to healthcare, while others see the system as working as intended.
• The use of financial products to reduce income and qualify for subsidies can be seen as a form of wealth redistribution, with some viewing it as a legitimate strategy and others as a problematic loophole.
• Prosecutorial discretion can lead to uneven application of the law, with some arguing that this is a necessary aspect of the justice system and others seeing it as a source of bias and inequality.
• The article's examples illustrate how discontinuities can have far-reaching and often unintended consequences, highlighting the need for careful consideration and design of policies and systems.
• Some argue that the focus on wealth creation and tax optimization can distract from more pressing issues like equity and fairness, while others see these as separate and unrelated concerns.