diff --git a/.codeclimate.yml b/.codeclimate.yml
index fbd96af2..719b2807 100644
--- a/.codeclimate.yml
+++ b/.codeclimate.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ engines:
     enabled: true
     config:
       languages:
+        count_threshold: 3 # rule of three
         ruby:
           mass_threshold: 36 # default: 18
         javascript:
diff --git a/app/models/map.rb b/app/models/map.rb
index 86a89a24..36b2d284 100644
--- a/app/models/map.rb
+++ b/app/models/map.rb
@@ -32,14 +32,19 @@ class Map < ApplicationRecord
   # Validate the attached image is image/jpg, image/png, etc
   validates_attachment_content_type :screenshot, content_type: /\Aimage\/.*\Z/
 
+  after_save :update_deferring_topics_and_synapses, if: :permission_changed?
+
+  delegate :count, to: :topics, prefix: :topic # same as `def topic_count; topics.count; end`
+  delegate :count, to: :synapses, prefix: :synapse
+  delegate :count, to: :contributors, prefix: :contributor
+  delegate :count, to: :stars, prefix: :star
+
+  delegate :name, to: :user, prefix: true
+
   def mappings
     topicmappings.or(synapsemappings)
   end
 
-  def mk_permission
-    Perm.short(permission)
-  end
-
   def contributors
     User.where(id: mappings.map(&:user_id).uniq)
   end
@@ -48,28 +53,10 @@ class Map < ApplicationRecord
     User.where(id: user_id).or(User.where(id: collaborators))
   end
 
-  def topic_count
-    topics.length
-  end
-
-  def synapse_count
-    synapses.length
-  end
-
-  delegate :name, to: :user, prefix: true
-
   def user_image
     user.image.url(:thirtytwo)
   end
 
-  def contributor_count
-    contributors.length
-  end
-
-  def star_count
-    stars.length
-  end
-
   def collaborator_ids
     collaborators.map(&:id)
   end
@@ -131,4 +118,9 @@ class Map < ApplicationRecord
     end
     removed.compact
   end
+
+  def update_deferring_topics_and_synapses
+    Topic.where(defer_to_map_id: id).update_all(permission: permission)
+    Synapse.where(defer_to_map_id: id).update_all(permission: permission)
+  end
 end
diff --git a/app/models/synapse.rb b/app/models/synapse.rb
index 37c9c72d..08512e4f 100644
--- a/app/models/synapse.rb
+++ b/app/models/synapse.rb
@@ -36,11 +36,7 @@ class Synapse < ApplicationRecord
     end
   end
 
-  def calculated_permission
-    defer_to_map&.permission || permission
-  end
-
   def as_json(_options = {})
-    super(methods: [:user_name, :user_image, :calculated_permission, :collaborator_ids])
+    super(methods: [:user_name, :user_image, :collaborator_ids])
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/models/topic.rb b/app/models/topic.rb
index 85f670c3..256fc604 100644
--- a/app/models/topic.rb
+++ b/app/models/topic.rb
@@ -75,12 +75,8 @@ class Topic < ApplicationRecord
     Pundit.policy_scope(user, maps).map(&:id)
   end
 
-  def calculated_permission
-    defer_to_map&.permission || permission
-  end
-
   def as_json(options = {})
-    super(methods: [:user_name, :user_image, :calculated_permission, :collaborator_ids])
+    super(methods: [:user_name, :user_image, :collaborator_ids])
       .merge(inmaps: inmaps(options[:user]), inmapsLinks: inmapsLinks(options[:user]),
              map_count: map_count(options[:user]), synapse_count: synapse_count(options[:user]))
   end
@@ -129,15 +125,14 @@ class Topic < ApplicationRecord
     "Get: #{name}"
   end
 
-  def mk_permission
-    Perm.short(permission)
-  end
-
   protected
-    def create_metamap?
-      if link == '' and metacode.name == 'Metamap'
-        @map = Map.create({ name: name, permission: permission, desc: '', arranged: true, user_id: user_id })
-        self.link = Rails.application.routes.url_helpers.map_url(:host => ENV['MAILER_DEFAULT_URL'], :id => @map.id)
-      end
-    end
+
+  def create_metamap?
+    return unless (link == '') && (metacode.name == 'Metamap')
+
+    @map = Map.create(name: name, permission: permission, desc: '',
+                      arranged: true, user_id: user_id)
+    self.link = Rails.application.routes.url_helpers
+                     .map_url(host: ENV['MAILER_DEFAULT_URL'], id: @map.id)
+  end
 end
diff --git a/app/policies/synapse_policy.rb b/app/policies/synapse_policy.rb
index 145f7432..e3190c18 100644
--- a/app/policies/synapse_policy.rb
+++ b/app/policies/synapse_policy.rb
@@ -2,11 +2,10 @@
 class SynapsePolicy < ApplicationPolicy
   class Scope < Scope
     def resolve
-      visible = %w(public commons)
-      return scope.where(permission: visible) unless user
+      return scope.where(permission: %w(public commons)) unless user
 
-      scope.where(permission: visible)
-           .or(scope.where.not(defer_to_map_id: nil).where(defer_to_map_id: user.all_accessible_maps.map(&:id)))
+      scope.where(permission: %w(public commons))
+           .or(scope.where(defer_to_map_id: user.all_accessible_maps.map(&:id)))
            .or(scope.where(user_id: user.id))
     end
   end
diff --git a/app/policies/topic_policy.rb b/app/policies/topic_policy.rb
index b29d9b44..64463b4a 100644
--- a/app/policies/topic_policy.rb
+++ b/app/policies/topic_policy.rb
@@ -2,11 +2,10 @@
 class TopicPolicy < ApplicationPolicy
   class Scope < Scope
     def resolve
-      visible = %w(public commons)
-      return scope.where(permission: visible) unless user
+      return scope.where(permission: %w(public commons)) unless user
 
-      scope.where(permission: visible)
-           .or(scope.where.not(defer_to_map_id: nil).where(defer_to_map_id: user.all_accessible_maps.map(&:id)))
+      scope.where(permission: %w(public commons))
+           .or(scope.where(defer_to_map_id: user.all_accessible_maps.map(&:id)))
            .or(scope.where(user_id: user.id))
     end
   end
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/DataModel/Synapse.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/DataModel/Synapse.js
index 5f2a6b88..e6a7f1c7 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/DataModel/Synapse.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/DataModel/Synapse.js
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ const Synapse = Backbone.Model.extend({
 
     newOptions.success = function(model, response, opt) {
       if (s) s(model, response, opt)
-      model.set('calculated_permission', model.get('permission'))
       model.trigger('saved')
 
       if (permBefore === 'private' && model.get('permission') !== 'private') {
@@ -85,7 +84,7 @@ const Synapse = Backbone.Model.extend({
       </li>`
   },
   authorizeToEdit: function(mapper) {
-    if (mapper && (this.get('calculated_permission') === 'commons' || this.get('collaborator_ids').includes(mapper.get('id')) || this.get('user_id') === mapper.get('id'))) return true
+    if (mapper && (this.get('permission') === 'commons' || this.get('collaborator_ids').includes(mapper.get('id')) || this.get('user_id') === mapper.get('id'))) return true
     else return false
   },
   authorizePermissionChange: function(mapper) {
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/DataModel/Topic.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/DataModel/Topic.js
index dff635f2..0d71c973 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/DataModel/Topic.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/DataModel/Topic.js
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ const Topic = Backbone.Model.extend({
 
     newOptions.success = function(model, response, opt) {
       if (s) s(model, response, opt)
-      model.set('calculated_permission', model.get('permission'))
       model.trigger('saved')
 
       if (permBefore === 'private' && model.get('permission') !== 'private') {
@@ -82,7 +81,7 @@ const Topic = Backbone.Model.extend({
   authorizeToEdit: function(mapper) {
     if (mapper &&
       (this.get('user_id') === mapper.get('id') ||
-      this.get('calculated_permission') === 'commons' ||
+      this.get('permission') === 'commons' ||
       this.get('collaborator_ids').includes(mapper.get('id')))) {
       return true
     } else {
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/Import.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/Import.js
index 7d1b3aa3..deb71048 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/Import.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/Import.js
@@ -295,8 +295,7 @@ const Import = {
       permission: topicPermision,
       defer_to_map_id: deferToMapId,
       desc: desc || '',
-      link: link || '',
-      calculated_permission: Active.Map.get('permission')
+      link: link || ''
     })
     DataModel.Topics.add(topic)
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/SynapseCard.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/SynapseCard.js
index b7b58821..d2feb03a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/SynapseCard.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/SynapseCard.js
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ const SynapseCard = {
 
   add_perms_form: function(synapse) {
     // permissions - if owner, also allow permission editing
-    $('#editSynLowerBar').append('<div class="mapPerm ' + synapse.get('calculated_permission').substring(0, 2) + '"></div>')
+    $('#editSynLowerBar').append('<div class="mapPerm ' + synapse.get('permission').substring(0, 2) + '"></div>')
 
     // ability to change permission
     var selectingPermission = false
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/TopicCard.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/TopicCard.js
index 71140bdd..3fa9a999 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/TopicCard.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/TopicCard.js
@@ -448,8 +448,8 @@ const TopicCard = {
         nodeValues.inmaps += '<li class="hideExtra extraText"><a href="' + url + '">' + inmapsAr[i] + '</a></li>'
       }
     }
-    nodeValues.permission = topic.get('calculated_permission')
-    nodeValues.mk_permission = topic.get('calculated_permission').substring(0, 2)
+    nodeValues.permission = topic.get('permission')
+    nodeValues.mk_permission = topic.get('permission').substring(0, 2)
     nodeValues.map_count = topic.get('map_count').toString()
     nodeValues.synapse_count = topic.get('synapse_count').toString()
     nodeValues.id = topic.isNew() ? topic.cid : topic.id