Doing Good Better

1. Effective Altruism: Maximizing Impact Through Evidence-Based Giving

Effective altruism is about asking, "How can I make the biggest difference I can?" and using evidence and careful reasoning to try to find an answer.

Scientific approach to doing good. Effective altruism applies rigorous analysis to philanthropic efforts, aiming to maximize the positive impact of our actions. It challenges traditional notions of charity by focusing on measurable outcomes rather than emotional appeal.

Key principles:

• Use evidence and reason to determine the most effective ways to help others
• Consider cause prioritization, looking for the most pressing and neglected issues
• Seek out interventions with the highest cost-effectiveness
• Be willing to change course based on new information

This approach encourages individuals to think critically about their charitable giving and career choices, ensuring that their efforts to improve the world are as impactful as possible.

2. The 100x Multiplier: Your Potential to Transform Lives

For those of us living in rich countries, you should expect to be able to do at least one hundred times as much to benefit other people as you can to benefit yourself.

Vast disparity in global wealth. The extreme inequality between developed and developing countries creates an opportunity for individuals in wealthy nations to have an outsized impact on the lives of those in extreme poverty.

Examples of impact:

• $3,400 can save a life through highly effective interventions
• $100 can provide one quality-adjusted life year (QALY) in the developing world
• Donating 10% of an average US income could save dozens of lives annually

This multiplier effect means that relatively small sacrifices from those in wealthy countries can translate into enormous benefits for those in extreme poverty, providing a compelling argument for increased charitable giving and effective altruism.

3. Cost-Effectiveness: Identifying the Most Impactful Interventions

We need to ensure we're making not just a difference but the most difference we can.

Importance of comparative analysis. Effective altruism emphasizes the need to evaluate and compare different charitable interventions to identify those that provide the greatest benefit per dollar spent.

Key considerations:

• Quantifiable metrics (e.g., QALYs - Quality-Adjusted Life Years)
• Rigorous studies and randomized controlled trials
• Transparency and accountability of organizations
• Scalability and room for more funding

Examples of highly cost-effective interventions:

• Distributing insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria
• Deworming programs for children in developing countries
• Direct cash transfers to extremely poor households

By focusing on the most cost-effective interventions, we can dramatically increase the positive impact of our charitable efforts.

4. Neglected Causes: Finding Overlooked Opportunities for Impact

The causes we hear the most about are precisely those where it will be harder to make a big difference; the causes that get less attention are those where we may be able to have a massive impact.

Identifying underserved areas. Effective altruism seeks out neglected causes where additional resources can have a disproportionate impact due to diminishing returns in more popular areas.

Characteristics of neglected causes:

• Receive relatively little funding or attention
• Have potential for high impact if addressed
• Often involve long-term or less visible issues

Examples of neglected causes:

• Global catastrophic risks (e.g., biosecurity, AI safety)
• Animal welfare, particularly factory farming
• Certain tropical diseases

By focusing on these overlooked areas, effective altruists can achieve greater marginal impact with their resources and efforts.

5. Career Choice: Aligning Your Work with Altruistic Goals

Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions you'll ever make, and I hope that the framework I've presented in this chapter will help you to think through this decision.

Strategic career planning. Effective altruism encourages individuals to consider how their career choices can maximize their positive impact on the world.

Key considerations:

• Personal fit: Skills, interests, and potential for excellence
• Direct impact: How much good can be done in the role itself
• Earning potential: Ability to donate significant amounts (earning to give)
• Career capital: Skills, connections, and credentials gained for future impact

Promising career paths:

• Research in high-priority cause areas
• Policy and government roles
• Entrepreneurship focused on solving important problems
• High-earning careers with a commitment to substantial donations

By thoughtfully considering career choices through an altruistic lens, individuals can dramatically increase their lifetime impact.

6. Cause Prioritization: Selecting the Most Pressing Global Issues

If we're really trying to do the most good we can, however, then we need to think carefully about cause selection.

Systematic approach to choosing causes. Effective altruism emphasizes the importance of rigorously evaluating different cause areas to identify those where additional resources can have the greatest impact.

Framework for cause prioritization:

• Scale: The magnitude of the problem and potential impact
• Neglectedness: How many resources are already dedicated to the cause
• Tractability: How easy it is to make progress on the problem

High-priority cause areas:

• Global poverty alleviation
• Reducing existential risks
• Animal welfare
• Climate change mitigation

By carefully selecting which causes to focus on, we can ensure that our efforts are directed towards the most pressing and impactful global issues.

7. Overcoming Biases: Making Rational Decisions in Altruism

We need to be careful when thinking about how to find a job you'll love. There's a lot of feel-good misinformation out there, and the real route to job satisfaction is somewhat counterintuitive.

Combating cognitive biases. Effective altruism emphasizes the importance of overcoming emotional and cognitive biases to make more rational and impactful decisions in our efforts to do good.

Common biases to avoid:

• Scope insensitivity: Failing to properly scale our emotional response to larger numbers
• Identifiable victim effect: Giving more weight to identifiable individuals over statistical lives
• Availability heuristic: Overemphasizing easily recalled or emotionally salient information

Strategies for overcoming biases:

• Rely on data and rigorous analysis rather than anecdotes
• Consider long-term and indirect effects of actions
• Seek out diverse perspectives and challenge assumptions

By consciously working to overcome these biases, we can make more rational and effective decisions in our altruistic efforts.

8. Global Poverty: A Prime Target for Effective Altruism

Because we're used to judging ourselves in comparison with our peers, it's easy to underestimate just how well off those of us in rich countries are.

Vast potential for impact. Global poverty remains one of the most promising areas for effective altruism due to the extreme disparities in wealth and the cost-effectiveness of interventions.

Key facts:

• Over 700 million people live in extreme poverty (less than $1.90 per day)
• Life-saving interventions can cost as little as a few thousand dollars
• Addressing poverty can have cascading positive effects on health, education, and economic development

Effective interventions:

• Direct cash transfers to extremely poor households
• Distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets
• Deworming programs for children

By focusing on global poverty, effective altruists can achieve an outsized impact, dramatically improving or saving lives at a relatively low cost.

9. Beyond Charity: Systemic Change and Long-Term Impact

Often the fact that you're passionate about something is a good reason why it will be difficult to find a job in that area, since you have to compete with all the other people who are passionate about the same thing.

Addressing root causes. Effective altruism encourages thinking beyond traditional charitable giving to consider systemic changes and long-term impacts that can solve problems at their source.

Approaches to systemic change:

• Policy advocacy and reform
• Scientific research in neglected areas
• Technological innovation for social good
• Improving institutional decision-making

Examples:

• Advocating for more open immigration policies
• Researching solutions to global catastrophic risks
• Developing clean energy technologies

By focusing on systemic change and long-term impact, effective altruists can potentially achieve much greater and more sustainable positive outcomes than through direct aid alone.

10. Personal Action: Implementing Effective Altruism in Your Life

Go onto the website of a highly effective charity and sign up to make a regular donation, even if it's just ten dollars per month. This is the easiest and most tangible way of having a massive immediate positive impact.

Practical steps for engagement. Effective altruism provides a framework for individuals to take concrete actions to maximize their positive impact on the world.

Key actions to consider:

• Pledge to donate a percentage of income to highly effective charities
• Critically evaluate career choices based on potential for impact
• Stay informed about the most pressing global issues and effective interventions
• Engage with the effective altruism community for support and resources

By implementing these principles in our daily lives, we can dramatically increase our positive impact on the world and contribute to solving some of humanity's most pressing challenges.

Last updated: January 23, 2025