death spiral
Irreversible downward cycle
A death spiral is a self-reinforcing decline where each deterioration causes further deterioration.
The term comes from aviation—an uncontrolled descending turn that tightens until the aircraft crashes.
In insurance, a death spiral occurs when rising premiums drive healthy customers away, leaving sicker ones who drive premiums higher still.
The phrase applies to any situation where negative feedback loops accelerate collapse: The company entered a death spiral of layoffs and declining morale.
Steep spiral descent
- nosediveSudden steep descent
- plungeSudden steep descent
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- spinRapid rotation around axis
recovery · pilot · airspeed · altitude · stall · crash · rotation · uncontrolled
Toward a lower position
- collapseSudden structural failure
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- freefallUnimpeded downward motion
- recessionProlonged economic decline
contraction · vicious cycle · feedback loop · irreversible · accelerating · unsustainable · doom loop · cascading failure
Two matching things
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- iceWater's solid form
- figure skatingChoreographed athletic ice performance
- axelRotating ice leap
lutz · toe loop · salchow · choreography · rink · blades · spins · routine
Pre-contract hidden knowledge problem
- premium increaseRise in insurance cost
- risk poolShared-liability insurance group
- underwritingRisk evaluation and acceptance
- actuarialOf risk calculation
solvency · insolvency · coverage · mandate · sustainability
tailspin
Steep spiral descent
spin · recovery · pilot · airspeed · altitude · stall · crash · rotation · uncontrolled · aviation
downward
Toward a lower position
- collapseSudden structural failure
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
- freefallUnimpeded downward motion
recession · contraction · vicious cycle · feedback loop · irreversible · accelerating · unsustainable · doom loop · cascading failure · point of no return
pair
Two matching things
- liftMechanism for vertical transport
- iceWater's solid form
- figure skatingChoreographed athletic ice performance
axel · lutz · toe loop · salchow · choreography · rink · blades · spins · routine · costumes
adverse selection
Pre-contract hidden knowledge problem
- premium increaseRise in insurance cost
- risk poolShared-liability insurance group
- underwritingRisk evaluation and acceptance
actuarial · solvency · insolvency · coverage · mandate · sustainability
- ice skatingfigure skating, speed skating, ice dancing, short track, ice rink
- skatingskating, ice skating, roller skating, figure skating, inline skating
- featsfeat, stunt, exploit, daring feat, deed
- ice showfigure skating, pairs skating, ice dancing, costumes, sequins
- spintopspin, backspin, sidespin, clockwise, counterclockwise
- spinningspin, rotate, revolve, whirl, twirl
death spiralvirtuous cycle
Self-perpetuating beneficial pattern
upward spiral · exponential growth · renaissance · ascent · boom
death spiralsoft landing
Controlled, gradual descent
course correction · turnaround · controlled descent · stabilization · hiccup
death, spiral, deadly, mortal, deaths, spire, deathly, spiraling, deathless