Toward a broader understanding of boomerang effects: The negative unintended consequences of poverty alleviation programs

Poverty alleviation programs aim to enhance well-being, but they may also unintentionally undermine the very outcomes they aim to promote. Previous research has restricted the examination of negative unintended consequences, or boomerang effects, to consumption contexts such as warning labels. In this paper, we build on theories of boomerang effects and marketplace deprivation in developing countries delineating a taxonomy of effects that extends beyond current conceptualizations in developed Western countries. Using insights from 44 scientific articles on poverty alleviation programs, we build a framework demonstrating how boomerang effects emerge unintentionally in programs meant to curb poverty. These include tangible livelihood and consumption boomerang effects, and embedded within these, intangible cognitive and emotional effects. We contribute to theory by providing a first effort at classifying boomerang effects beyond psychological reactance applicable to poverty alleviation programs in developed Western countries. We conclude by using the emergent framework to suggest pathways for future research streams to aid policy makers in creating effective poverty alleviation programs.