The Joint effect reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Joint effect

Joint effect, a logical fallacy of causation in which two things that have a common cause, are thought to be cause and effect themselves.

For example, ice cream consumption and murder rates are highly correlated. Now, does ice cream incite murder or does murder increase the demand for ice cream? Neither, they are joint effects of a common cause, namely, hot weather.

It's a special case of correlation implies causation.

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