Higher-order control
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. This article has been tagged since January 2007. |
Higher-order control is contrasted to first-order control. In second- and higher-order control, the way the mechanism is used may change.
It can be said that first-order control is how much something is done, second-order control is what is done, and third-order control is inventing new things to do.
- Example: The problem is that people become addicted to drugs and steal things to pay for their addiction.
- First-order solution: increase police presence and introduce stricter laws against trafficking in drugs.
- Second-order solution: legalize drugs; make a clear distinction between acceptable drug users who don't steal and criminals who do.
There is no reason to believe a higher-order solution is preferable in all situations; but higher-order solutions should be attempted when first-order solutions have been shown to be ineffectual.
