What was written: “…even if the costs were sometimes painfully born by those who…”
What I think was meant: I think they meant “…even if the costs were sometimes painfully borne by those who…”
Punch Line: My pain at this was born out of the fact that burdens are generally borne (with an “e”) while humans are born (no “e”).
P.S. This was in an academic book published by a university press.