I would say you should just donate it now. Gift Aid is just very efficient, and we have plenty of effective interventions in all these areas to do now.
For x- and s-risk and global development (areas that benefit from research and can accumulate knowledge) the time of highest leverage is plausibly now, and the earlier the better.
The report you link says that the largest cause of later cost-effectiveness is “exogenous learning”, i.e. research that happens regardless and makes marginal interventions more effective. If that is the case, why not invest in the learning itself, to make effective interventions for everyone appear closer in time?
I’m less sure about animal welfare. Research affects it somewhat but it’s mostly advocacy, and I’m not sure how that accumulates over time. I think you should give now too.
I would say you should just donate it now. Gift Aid is just very efficient, and we have plenty of effective interventions in all these areas to do now.
For x- and s-risk and global development (areas that benefit from research and can accumulate knowledge) the time of highest leverage is plausibly now, and the earlier the better.
The report you link says that the largest cause of later cost-effectiveness is “exogenous learning”, i.e. research that happens regardless and makes marginal interventions more effective. If that is the case, why not invest in the learning itself, to make effective interventions for everyone appear closer in time?
I’m less sure about animal welfare. Research affects it somewhat but it’s mostly advocacy, and I’m not sure how that accumulates over time. I think you should give now too.
Thanks Adria. Are there good resources on investing in learning in the different cause areas, and how it compares to donating to do direct work?