**Cobra Effect**
*Definition:* The Cobra Effect refers to a situation where an attempted solution to a problem makes the problem worse. This term originates from an anecdotal historical event in British-controlled India. Faced with a significant cobra population in Delhi, the authorities offered a bounty for every cobra killed. Initially, many cobras were killed, but soon people began breeding cobras for the bounty. When the government discovered this unintended consequence and ended the bounty program, the now-worthless cobras were released, exacerbating the cobra population problem.
*Origin:* Named after an incident in British India involving attempts to control the cobra population.
*Usage:* The Cobra Effect illustrates the potential perils of poorly designed incentives or interventions, where the steps taken to fix an issue inadvertently exacerbate the original problem.