<P> Some cases of super-spreading conform to the 20 / 80 rule, where approximately 20% of infected individuals are responsible for 80% of transmissions, although super-spreading can still be said to occur when super-spreaders account for a higher or lower percentage of transmissions . In epidemics with super-spreading, the majority of individuals infect relatively few secondary contacts . </P> <P> The Dunedin Study has found 80% of crimes are committed by 20% of criminals . This statistic is used to support both stop - and - frisk policies and broken windows policing, as catching those criminals committing minor crimes will likely net many criminals wanted for (or who would normally commit) larger ones . </P> <P> The idea has a rule of thumb application in many places, but it is commonly misused . For example, it is a misuse to state a solution to a problem "fits the 80 / 20 rule" just because it fits 80% of the cases; it must also be that the solution requires only 20% of the resources that would be needed to solve all cases . Additionally, it is a misuse of the 80 / 20 rule to interpret a small number of categories or observations . </P> <P> This is a special case of the wider phenomenon of Pareto distributions . If the Pareto index α, which is one of the parameters characterizing a Pareto distribution, is chosen as α = log 5 ≈ 1.16, then one has 80% of effects coming from 20% of causes . </P>

The common balance works on the principle of equality of