Oh I’m almost sure they would rather have the cash, I’m not arguing against that. And yes the evidence is clear that they mostly spend it on essentials—I would argue most of the items considered investments you see (iron roofs, motorbikes etc.) are borderline essentials anyway, or at least you could call them an investment in everyday welfare that will quickly pay dividends either in future wellbeing or financially.
Which one is more effective though depends on how much we weight preference. Give Directly (see their comment) weight the preferences of the recipients most heavily “GiveDirectly believes that the weights that should count the most are those of the specific people we’re trying to help” (Givedirectly’s “North star), while GiveWell (and myself) more heavily weight objective measures, like DALYs averted/QALYs gained and longer term financial benefits, which is where mosquito nets will dominate whatever people can spend the equivalent 5 dollars on.
For example that 5 dollars might pay for half a term’s school fees at a crappy village school (which will bring some benefit), wheras sleeping under a net for 2 years might reduce time off school and improve iron levels which helps learning and brain development, while also reducing the chance of dying or serious disability. Not too hard to see the potential 10x benefit. Apologies if this is obvious and I’m sucking eggs here.
I do wonder though how much motivated reasoning comes into give directly’s take on impact. Obviously if we weight pure preference most heavily, cash will dominate everything—perhaps even Strongminds measured by Wellbys ;). I know from experience how hard it is as someone running an NGO not to lean (or even swing) towards measures which will seem to favour your own intervention above others.
Oh I’m almost sure they would rather have the cash, I’m not arguing against that. And yes the evidence is clear that they mostly spend it on essentials—I would argue most of the items considered investments you see (iron roofs, motorbikes etc.) are borderline essentials anyway, or at least you could call them an investment in everyday welfare that will quickly pay dividends either in future wellbeing or financially.
Which one is more effective though depends on how much we weight preference. Give Directly (see their comment) weight the preferences of the recipients most heavily “GiveDirectly believes that the weights that should count the most are those of the specific people we’re trying to help” (Givedirectly’s “North star), while GiveWell (and myself) more heavily weight objective measures, like DALYs averted/QALYs gained and longer term financial benefits, which is where mosquito nets will dominate whatever people can spend the equivalent 5 dollars on.
For example that 5 dollars might pay for half a term’s school fees at a crappy village school (which will bring some benefit), wheras sleeping under a net for 2 years might reduce time off school and improve iron levels which helps learning and brain development, while also reducing the chance of dying or serious disability. Not too hard to see the potential 10x benefit. Apologies if this is obvious and I’m sucking eggs here.
I do wonder though how much motivated reasoning comes into give directly’s take on impact. Obviously if we weight pure preference most heavily, cash will dominate everything—perhaps even Strongminds measured by Wellbys ;). I know from experience how hard it is as someone running an NGO not to lean (or even swing) towards measures which will seem to favour your own intervention above others.