patternality

Patternality is a term sometimes used in political philosophy and economics to describe the spillover effects that arise from paternalistic policies or actions designed to protect individuals from poor choices or self-harm. The concept treats paternalistic interventions not only as targeted efforts to influence behavior but also as events that can generate consequences for third parties, institutions, or society at large.

Patternalities can be positive or negative. Positive patternalities occur when a paternalistic policy, while aimed at helping the individual, also benefits others or reduces social costs, such as laws that promote road safety or taxation of unhealthy products that lowers public health expenditures. Negative patternalities arise when such policies impose costs, burdens, or distortions beyond the intended group, for example through compliance costs on businesses, administrative overhead, or unintended stigmatization of certain choices.

The idea is related to but distinct from conventional externalities. Externalities describe the side effects of any activity or transaction, whereas patternality focuses on side effects that arise specifically from paternalistic motive or design. It can intersect with debates on libertarian paternalism, efficiency, and ethics: proponents argue that some interventions yield net social benefits despite restrictions on autonomy, while critics contend that paternalism risks overreach, misjudges true preferences, and imposes costs on those not directly targeted.

Empirically, patternality remains a contested and evolving framework, with case studies spanning health, safety, and consumer regulation. It offers a lens for evaluating the broader social consequences of well-intentioned policies beyond their stated aims.