“… [on IDInsight’s new GiveWell report on value of life in Africa] “More to the point, it draws attention the fact that a group of a dozen or so generalist researchers with limited adult life experience in one of the wealthiest parts of the world are LITERALLY ASSIGNING DOLLAR VALUES TO THE LIVES OF POOR PEOPLE IN AFRICA. And while I understand that is an unavoidable value judgment that we all implicitly make anyway, it nevertheless highlights the highly problematic nature of not making more of an attempt to incorporate the perspectives of those affected in these calculations, and how much reputation risk (=impact risk) EA is exposing itself to if these underlying issues are not addressed”
To be clear, unless this was referring to something else, this was a study where IDInsight researchers (including professional developmental economists) went to Ghana and Kenya and set up experimental designs where they asked locals how much they value additional years of life versus cash transfers, among other questions. Saying that they should have “ma[de] more of an attempt to incorporate the perspectives of those affected in these calculations,” without explaining how, seems somewhat unfair to me.
EDIT(2020/08/05): Possible conflict of interest: I’m friends with and had some volunteering engagements with the lead author.