Editing Ripple effect (section)

{{Other uses|Ripple effect (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|Disturbance that propagates through a system}}
[[File:Ripple effect.png|thumb|A diagram of the Ripple effect illustrating how the "[[Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations|Weinstein Scandal]]" led all the way to the rise of the [[Me Too movement]].]]
A '''ripple effect''' occurs when an initial disturbance to a system propagates outward to disturb an increasingly larger portion of the system, like [[capillary wave|ripple]]s expanding across the water when an object is dropped into it.

The ripple effect is often used colloquially to mean a [[multiplier (economics)|multiplier]] in [[macroeconomics]]. For example, an individual's reduction in spending reduces the incomes of others and their ability to spend.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-economic-ripple-effect-gone-awry/ The Economic Ripple Effect Gone Awry].</ref> In a broader global context, research has shown how monetary policy decisions, especially by major economies like the US, can create ripple effects impacting economies worldwide, emphasizing the interconnectedness of today's global economy. <ref>{{cite journal |last1=Thomas |first1=Lina |title=US Monetary Policy Spillovers and Spillbacks |journal=SSRN Electronic Journal |year=2023 |doi=10.2139/ssrn.4370886}}</ref>

In [[sociology]], the ripple effect can be observed in how social interactions can affect situations not directly related to the initial interaction,<ref>Development sociology By Norman Long, [[Routledge]] {{ISBN|978-0-415-23536-5}}</ref>{{page needed|date=September 2013}} and in [[Charity (practice)|charitable activities]] where information can be disseminated and passed from the community to broaden its impact.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/education/2004/sep/17/tefl3 Experience needed to make VSO's 'ripple effect' work] [[The Guardian]] 17 September 2004.</ref>

The concept has been applied in [[computer science]] within the field of [[software metrics]] as a [[Programming complexity|complexity measure]].<ref name="Black2001">{{cite journal|last=Black|first=Sue|year=2001|title=Computing ripple effect for software maintenance|journal=[[Journal of Software Maintenance and Evolution: Research and Practice]]|volume=13|issue=4|pages=263–279|issn=1532-060X|doi=10.1002/smr.233|author-link=Sue Black (computer scientist)}}</ref>