A very bad idea

Does forced behavior modification work? Not really.

And, actually, it can make the original problem worse.

Consider the events of 97 years ago today, when the 18th amendment (Prohibition) and the accompanying Volstead Act went into effect. Virtually everything the temperance people wanted to cure got significantly more extreme. Whereas before, men (yes, mostly men) would casually go to a saloon on their way home from work, now they were binge-drinking with the express purpose of getting drunk at the first opportunity. Violence and murders exploded across the nation, as did virtually all other forms of criminal activity.

The attempt to force people to behave well had backfired spectacularly. Over at the Ritholtz Wealth Management Facebook page, we share some the amazing stats from this period. Head over now and be sure to follow us there.

Ritholtz Wealth Management (Facebook)