No. 351 · Fixing problems · Military and War
Collateral Damage
Every action aimed at one target also lands on people who never chose it.
In the Almanac
“The Luddites”, 1811–1816 · “New York’s taxi medallions”, 2014–2019
Both stories in full, three ways to use it and where it misleads.
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Questions
What is Collateral Damage?
Collateral Damage refers to the unintended harm our actions cause to people not directly involved. Born in military language, it applies widely: new machines cut skilled textile workers' wages, and ride-hailing sank New York taxi medallion prices.
How do you use Collateral Damage?
Before big decisions, map the ripples: your intended outcome, the people directly affected, and those touched indirectly. Look across time horizons, from one month to five years. Listing every stakeholder helps you spot hidden costs before they become someone else's problem.
When does Collateral Damage matter?
Collateral Damage is one of the 40 mental models for fixing problems, the situations where you ask: Why does this keep going wrong, and how do I fix it for good? Within that, it belongs to “When fixes backfire”, alongside Blowback, Cobra Effect and Hydra Effect.
What is an example of Collateral Damage?
Two stories show it at work: The Luddites (1811–1816) and New York’s taxi medallions (2014–2019). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.
Which mental models are related to Collateral Damage?
Creative Destruction, Utilitarianism and Veil of Ignorance. Collateral Damage itself comes from military and war.