I'm looking for a word or phrase to describe the natural forces or factors that would normally either encourage or discourage a particular course of action if that factor is either present or not present. It is similar to "supply and demand" but should imply multiple factors (such as money, time, knowledge, etc.). It is also similar to population expansion models where the lack of predators or the overabundance of food might lead to unrestricted growth.
The terms that I'm looking for are most closely aligned with examples of the way that government subsidization or insurance company involvement has (arguably) led to runaway abuses of medical resources by individuals. If the individual had to pay the full cost of the service they're consuming, they would be less likely to consume that more expensive service. They'd choose to consume a less expensive service or change their behavior so they didn't need those services.
I can come up with metaphors and comparisons, but I'm looking for a succinct but meaningful/powerful/vivid way of expressing it. The target audience has limited time to evaluate lengthy examples, yet their choices can make or break the proposed projects. Think of having only 15 seconds or less to convey the concept before the window of attention span is lost if it isn't captured.
Examples of potential usage:
- "Company B is being indirectly penalized because Company A has an advantage by (not having the same limiting factor)."
- "Country A has an unfair advantage over Country B because Country C is subsidizing the war efforts of Country A. Since Country A isn't seeing its own resources diminishing, they don't have the same warning signs that would prompt them to consider negotiation or truce instead of waging war until Country B is conquered."
- "Country B is in a state of ___."
- "Country A has a/an ____ advantage."
- "Country A lacks motivation to work for peace because ____."
- "Country A and B's conflict is unbalanced because ____."