What is the Domino Effect?

The Domino Effect is a chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then causes another similar change, and so on in linear sequence. The term is used as an analogy to a falling row of dominoes. It typically refers to a linked sequence of events where the time lag between successive events is relatively small. The term can be used literally or for causal linkages within systems such as global finance or politics.