This post seeks to start a conversation on the extent to which economic growth and RCT-evaluated programs should be prioritized in EA. It implies that RCT-researched programs relate to health interventions, which does not need to be the case. It suggests trade liberalization as a possible solution, while omitting a discussion on the possible implications of various trade policy strategies. The piece omits a discussion on the potential complementarity between growth and RCT-based programs. The Self-reported Life Satisfaction vs GDP per capita graph uses a semi-log plot, which shows a logarithmic relationship as a line and can thus lead some readers to assign a relatively greater value to increasing GDP at higher income levels. Thus, while this piece can be an excellent conversation starter, it should not inform the prioritization of specific interventions.
This post seeks to start a conversation on the extent to which economic growth and RCT-evaluated programs should be prioritized in EA. It implies that RCT-researched programs relate to health interventions, which does not need to be the case. It suggests trade liberalization as a possible solution, while omitting a discussion on the possible implications of various trade policy strategies. The piece omits a discussion on the potential complementarity between growth and RCT-based programs. The Self-reported Life Satisfaction vs GDP per capita graph uses a semi-log plot, which shows a logarithmic relationship as a line and can thus lead some readers to assign a relatively greater value to increasing GDP at higher income levels. Thus, while this piece can be an excellent conversation starter, it should not inform the prioritization of specific interventions.