downstream effect
Later causal outcome
A downstream effect is a consequence that occurs later in a sequence or further along in a process, resulting from an earlier action or event.
The metaphor comes from water flow—what happens upstream affects everything below it.
Used in business, medicine, ecology, and policy analysis: The merger had downstream effects on suppliers and retailers.
A single decision can trigger multiple downstream effects, some unintended.
- rippleMinor surface disturbance
- consequenceResult of an action
- cascadeSuccessive downward flow
- falloutPost-blast atmospheric particles
- aftermathResults following an event
domino · chain reaction · repercussion · spillover · knock-on · secondary · second order · indirect · unintended · unintended consequence · collateral · residual · flow · current · river · impact · long-term impact · reverberation
- consequencesconsequence, consequences, result, results, outcome
downstream effectroot cause
Fundamental origin of problem
primary cause · source · origin · prime mover · catalyst
downstream, effect, down, stream, effects, effective, effectively, effectiveness, ineffective