= 27d567bc2d48d9f40e9ccc20ea370b15)
HaydnB comments on Pay charities for results? - Less Wrong
You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.
= 783df68a0f980790206b9ea87794c5b6)
Loading…= b715d02e85f7b3b4ae65ca3d3e450868)
Subscribe to RSS Feed
Powered by Reddit
= f037147d6e6c911a85753b9abdedda8d)
You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.
Comments (18)
I'm not sure how you intend payment to work. Is the idea to do something like 'If you, charity X, can show me clear proof that you have vaccinated Y kids, I agree to pay you Z dollars'?
There seems to be a number of problems with this system, not least that they need your money in order to achieve the results in the first place. Nevertheless there does seem to be a (limited) space for X-prize type rewards, to spur interest and funding.
However if the system is something like 'Charity X can show clear proof that they have been able to consistently do good work, so I will donate to them' then I think that's already similar to how a lot of effective altruists donate already.
One could even imagine an entirely for-profit firm that gives free vaccines to poor third-world kids. Initial funding could come from the firm's investors or loans (i.e. the same ways all for-profit firms get funding). A charitable person inks a contract for "delivery" of 10,000 vaccinated kids for a given amount of money. The firm has an incentive to deliver this efficiently and quickly, so they can pocket the difference. Competition between firms then keeps the profit margins reasonable.
The main disadvantage is that non-profit groups would have huge tax advantages over for-profit firms.
Yes, the first idea is what I had in mind. The problem with getting financing in order to achieve results has a few possible solutions, I mention some below in the response to Kawoomba. Which other problems did you have in mind?
The advantages seem to me to work at various levels – improved incentives, much improved knowledge, and the possibility of a system emerging where you can leave it to the financial incentives and the feedback processes they create to bring about increased effectiveness and innovation.