Braess's Paradox
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
In a traffic network, adding a new road segment may instead worsen overall traffic congestion. Because each driver rationally chooses a seemingly faster route (Nash equilibrium), resulting in everyone being stuck at bottlenecks.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
Counterintuitive system optimization. When optimizing processes or network architectures, blindly adding resources (people, servers, bandwidth) may reduce system efficiency. Sometimes, closing certain paths (limiting choices) can make the system run more smoothly.
Anchor fast decisions
In traffic/networks, adding a new path that seems to alleviate congestion may instead increase overall travel time. Because each individual pursues their own shortest path, the collective falls into a worse Nash equilibrium.
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/3Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braess%27s_paradoxverified
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