Dictionary

ratchet effect en · NOUN

Meanings

1. An instance of the restrained ability of human processes to be reversed once a specific thing has happened.
2. (US, definite) A political process in the two-party system that, when Republican politicians are in power, they implement conservative policies, but when Democratic politicians hold power, they implement little to no progressive policies, leading to a status quo that only becomes more conservative despite the election of Democratic leaders.

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