I really like your table at the end, and I’d like to challenge a few of your estimates there. I think we ignore and underrate “hometown advantage” (to steal a sports phase). This is just my limited experience and weak intuition talking—it’s very hard to put numbers on comparative advantage.
Part of the reason I think we ignore hometown advantage that most EAs interested in global development live in such rich countries, that the multiplier for “targeting the most vulnerable” as you put it might be so high, perhaps 50-100x for work outside their countr rather than 10x as in your case which makes hometown comparative advantages largely irrelevant.
I love the way you put “8x multiplier” for Local network and credentials leading to a greater influence and leverage within the Colombian government. I agree with this strongly.
To that I would potentially add other multipliers for working in Columbia - Ability to leverage language and deep cultural understanding to be more effective x 2 - Don’t waste time understanding the local landscape (health system/ economy/politcal system) x 1.5 - Use local knowledge and networks to identify the most tractable/neglected issues x 1.5 - Happiness/contentment of being closer to home increasing productivity x 1.5
You might also consider poorer countries around you (e.g. Bolivia) where you would retain some of these competitive advantages, while also being able to target more vulnerable populations.
A couple of other comments too
I think doing a masters or something abroad, then coming back and working in Columbia might be a good option. I don’t see the connection between studying abroad and working in another country
Also I don’t really understand your “Ability to choose the most effective organisations” multiplier in your chart. Why would this increase outside of Columbia? Also you could start your own ;).
Great article really nice job!
I really like your table at the end, and I’d like to challenge a few of your estimates there. I think we ignore and underrate “hometown advantage” (to steal a sports phase). This is just my limited experience and weak intuition talking—it’s very hard to put numbers on comparative advantage.
Part of the reason I think we ignore hometown advantage that most EAs interested in global development live in such rich countries, that the multiplier for “targeting the most vulnerable” as you put it might be so high, perhaps 50-100x for work outside their countr rather than 10x as in your case which makes hometown comparative advantages largely irrelevant.
I love the way you put “8x multiplier” for Local network and credentials leading to a greater influence and leverage within the Colombian government. I agree with this strongly.
To that I would potentially add other multipliers for working in Columbia
- Ability to leverage language and deep cultural understanding to be more effective x 2
- Don’t waste time understanding the local landscape (health system/ economy/politcal system) x 1.5
- Use local knowledge and networks to identify the most tractable/neglected issues x 1.5
- Happiness/contentment of being closer to home increasing productivity x 1.5
You might also consider poorer countries around you (e.g. Bolivia) where you would retain some of these competitive advantages, while also being able to target more vulnerable populations.
A couple of other comments too
I think doing a masters or something abroad, then coming back and working in Columbia might be a good option. I don’t see the connection between studying abroad and working in another country
Also I don’t really understand your “Ability to choose the most effective organisations” multiplier in your chart. Why would this increase outside of Columbia? Also you could start your own ;).