Toothpaste tube theory

A toothpaste tube with blue toothpaste

The toothpaste tube theory is a jocular metaphor stating that increasing pressure eventually forces some sort of release, just as when one squeezes a toothpaste tube, toothpaste comes out. It is used to explain social and political behavior, as well as relationships involving abstract concepts. Moreover, it is often used in metaphors to describe irreversible processes, since getting toothpaste out of a tube is easy, while reinserting it back into the tube is next to impossible.

## Applications of the theory

In administrative law, the toothpaste tube theory describes problems of displacement, for instance, where discretion or accountability are shifted elsewhere. In the case, Byrnes v. LCI Communication Holdings Co. an appeals court rejected one formulation of the toothpaste tube theory.[1]

In labor law, the toothpaste tube theory[2] means employer and employee relations are always under pressure.

In economics, the toothpaste tube theory[3] may be applied to, for instance, exports. Under this formulation, when home demand is squeezed, exports are extruded.

In geography, the toothpaste tube theory can be used to explain the activity and behavior of glaciers with regards to their effect on the land via erosion.

## Other formulations

Some versions of the toothpaste tube theory observe that there are diminishing returns.[4]

## References

1. ↑ "byrnes-v-lci-communication-holdings-co". https://casetext.com/case/byrnes-v-lci-communication-holdings-co.
2. ↑ Taking back the workers' law, Ellen J. Dannin
3. ↑ Britain's Economic Prospects Reconsidered Alec Cairncross, and Ditchley
4. ↑ Sogyal Rinpoche, Erik Pema Kunsang, Kerry Moran, and Marcia Binder, Fearless Simplicity

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