Law of the handicap of a head start
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The Law of the handicap of a head start (original Dutch: "Wet van de remmende voorsprong") describes a phenomenon that is applicable in numerous settings. The term was coined by Jan Romein, a Dutch journalist and historian, in 1937 in his essay "The dialectic of progress" ("De dialectiek van de vooruitgang"), part of the series "The unfinished past" ("Het onvoltooid verleden").
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[edit] The law
The law posits that progress in a particular domain often creates circumstances in which clear stimuli are lacking to strive for further progress. This results in being overtaken by others. In the terminology of the law, the head start, initially an advantage, subsequently becomes a handicap.
[edit] Examples
[edit] From the original essay
The author gives an example of the law of the handicap of a head start in his essay "The dialectic of progress".
During a trip to the London "City", he wonders why at that time it was still lit by gas lamps, rather than electrical lamps as were by that time used in other European capitals. His explanation was that the head start of London (i.e. their possession of street lights before most other cities) was now holding them back in replacing them with the more modern electric lights. After all, there was no pressing need since the streets were already lit.
[edit] From Dutch popular culture
In Dutch popular culture the Law is sometimes invoked to explain the often observed phenomenon that athletes can more easily reach the top of their profession than that they can maintain that level.
