# ELI5 Jevons Paradox – why adding more lanes to a highway can make it worse?

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/eli5-explain-like-i-m-5-bite-sized-answers-to-stuff-you-should-know-about-in-a-mini-podcast-484092/eli5-jevons-paradox-why-adding-more-lanes-to-a-highway-can-make-it-worse
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/eli5-explain-like-i-m-5-bite-sized-answers-to-stuff-you-should-know-about-in-a-mini-podcast-484092/eli5-jevons-paradox-why-adding-more-lanes-to-a-highway-can-make-it-worse.md
Podcast: [ELI5 Explain Like I'm 5: Bite sized answers to stuff you should know about - in a mini podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/eli5-explain-like-i-m-5-bite-sized-answers-to-stuff-you-should-know-about-in-a-mini-podcast-484092)
Published: 2026-01-09T06:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://prefix.up.audio/s/pscrb.fm/rss/p/op3.dev/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/ATHLLC8928738076.mp3
Audio file: https://prefix.up.audio/s/pscrb.fm/rss/p/op3.dev/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/ATHLLC8928738076.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/eli5-explain-like-i-m-5-bite-sized-answers-to-stuff-you-should-know-about-in-a-mini-podcast-484092/episodes/eli5-jevons-paradox-why-adding-more-lanes-to-a-highway-can-make-it-worse
Duration seconds: 505

## Resource

Why does adding more lanes to a highway actually make traffic jams get even worse? How did the machine meant to end slavery accidentally make it ten times more profitable? Why did the invention of the ATM lead to more bank tellers instead of replacing them? Is your "eco-friendly" car actually causing you to burn more fuel than your old one? Why does being the most efficient worker in the office always result in being given more work? ... we explain like I'm five Thank you to the r/explainlikeimfive community and in particular the following users whose questions and comments formed the basis of this discussion: environmental_bus507, sharp_simple_2764, zem, m1ss1ontomars2k4, nowhereman136 and mammoth-mud-9609 To the ELI5 community that has supported us so far, thanks for all your feedback and comments. Join us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/eli5ThePodcast/ or send us an e-mail: ELI5ThePodcast@gmail.com

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## Transcript

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