wdmacaskill comments on Giving What We Can, 80,000 Hours, and Meta-Charity - Less Wrong

44 Post author: wdmacaskill 15 November 2012 08:34PM

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Comment author: wdmacaskill 11 November 2012 05:07:45PM 1 point [-]

That's right. If there's a lot of concern, we can write up what we already know, and look into it further - we're very happy to respond to demand. This would naturally go under EAA research.

Comment author: Giles 11 November 2012 06:28:53PM 1 point [-]

There are some related concerns that need to be factored into the multipliers for extending lifespans and reducing poverty, but which don't fall naturally under EAA's research:

  • Impact of extra population/animal population/consumption on environmental and other resources
  • Effect of extending a life or reducing poverty on global economic growth
  • Positive impact of increased economic growth
  • Negative impact of increased economic growth - existential risk and possibly other considerations?
  • How much of the weights in the Disability-Adjusted Life Year calculation come from valuing quality of life factors for their own sake, and how much is a fudge factor associated with reduced expected income/employability/social involvement associated with disability or disease? Toby Ord makes sort of this point here

Do you know which organisation's remit these kinds of question would fall into? Do any of these questions already receive mainstream attention (and if so are they likely to miss something important out of their calculations?)

Comment author: wdmacaskill 12 November 2012 01:10:36AM 4 points [-]

These are all good questions! Interestingly, they are all relevant to the empirical aspect of a research grant proposal I'm writing. Anyway, our research team is shared between 80,000 Hours and GWWC. They would certainly be interested in addressing all these questions (I think it would officially come under GWWC). I know that those at GiveWell are very interested in at least some of the above questions as well; hopefully they'll write on them soon.