What is an example of an availability cascade?

An excellent example of a typical availability cascade is described by Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman in his book “ Thinking, Fast and Slow “: An availability cascade is a self-sustaining chain of events, which may start from media reports of a relatively minor event and lead up to public panic and large-scale government action.

How do availability cascades occur?

Availability cascades occur in a society via public discourse (e.g. the public sphere and the news media) or over social networks —sets of linked actors in one or more of several roles. These actors process incoming information to form their private beliefs according to various rules, both rational and semi-rational.

What is availability cascade research?

Research on availability cascades spans across various fields including sociology, psychology, political science, and communication studies. This research often focuses on understanding how and why certain ideas or beliefs spread within society, and the resulting social, political, and economic impacts.