Final answer:
The cobra situation in New Delhi and the plastic bag issue in Chicago are examples of the Cobra Effect, where solutions to problems inadvertently worsen the situation due to unexpected human behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
The scenario in Chicago with plastic bags is similar to the cobra situation in New Delhi due to the unintended consequences of solving one problem and inadvertently creating another, which is an example of what economists call the Cobra Effect. In New Delhi, a bounty was placed on cobras to reduce their population, but this led to people breeding cobras to earn the bounty, and when the bounty was removed, they released the snakes, worsening the situation. Similarly, in Chicago, legislation meant to lessen the environmental impact of plastic bags may have led to an increase in the purchase of heavier, more lasting bags, inadvertently increasing plastic consumption rather than decreasing it.