For example: with regard to coral reef loss, if the research is accurate and there is a 24$ economic return for every 1$ spent
If there was a $24 total return to every dollar spent, and the actor could capture even a small fraction of this return, I’d expect that a for-profit enterprise would already be doing this.
But I’m not familiar with the domain, maybe there’s no way for a for-profit to capture the return, or maybe the 24:1 ratio is incorrect.
Thanks, Milan. I think the economics are such that the return does not necessarily go to the person/org that donated the money. The 24$ return per 1$ invested is seen in sustainable fisheries and the taxes they generate; in generating tourism for that region and all the jobs and auxiliary benefits, taxes, decreased welfare spending, etc. So it’s a great return but does not accrue to the donor, per se. But it’s a great investment for governments and for charities that are looking to maximize well-being.
Other examples from the book have “family planning/sex education” as a 120$ return per 1$ invested. Campaigns against malaria as 36$:1. And these ideas are vetted, calculated by teams of economists trying to decide where the trillions of dollars that will be spent on aid over the next 15 years.
Does that make sense?
If anyone found this useful I could use a couple karma points to start threads in the regular forum. Thanks. :)
-Tom
It’s only 145 pages and very interesting imo. Well worth the short read. I love the concept of interventions that pay for themselves. An insecticide treated bed net for 5$ including delivery, on average, pays for itself by preventing malaria and fostering a culture with less societal burden down the road; less hospital costs for the sick, more taxes generated by healthy workers; healthy kids from those parents; etc. An economically virtuous circle.
Welcome!
If there was a $24 total return to every dollar spent, and the actor could capture even a small fraction of this return, I’d expect that a for-profit enterprise would already be doing this.
But I’m not familiar with the domain, maybe there’s no way for a for-profit to capture the return, or maybe the 24:1 ratio is incorrect.
Thanks, Milan. I think the economics are such that the return does not necessarily go to the person/org that donated the money. The 24$ return per 1$ invested is seen in sustainable fisheries and the taxes they generate; in generating tourism for that region and all the jobs and auxiliary benefits, taxes, decreased welfare spending, etc. So it’s a great return but does not accrue to the donor, per se. But it’s a great investment for governments and for charities that are looking to maximize well-being.
Other examples from the book have “family planning/sex education” as a 120$ return per 1$ invested. Campaigns against malaria as 36$:1. And these ideas are vetted, calculated by teams of economists trying to decide where the trillions of dollars that will be spent on aid over the next 15 years.
Does that make sense?
If anyone found this useful I could use a couple karma points to start threads in the regular forum. Thanks. :) -Tom
Hm, could you link to the place where you’re getting these figures? I’m curious :-)
(Or give page numbers if it’s a book.)
It’s only 145 pages and very interesting imo. Well worth the short read. I love the concept of interventions that pay for themselves. An insecticide treated bed net for 5$ including delivery, on average, pays for itself by preventing malaria and fostering a culture with less societal burden down the road; less hospital costs for the sick, more taxes generated by healthy workers; healthy kids from those parents; etc. An economically virtuous circle.
Book: https://www.amazon.ca/Nobel-Laureates-Smartest-Targets-2016-2030/dp/1940003113