> Cost-effectiveness calculations are employed by every EA prioritization organization, and nobody is claiming they necessarily imply a higher priority.
Cost-effectiveness is one of the classic tools used in prioritisation, and at least in theory a higher level of cost-effectiveness should exactly imply higher priority. Now the issue is that we don’t trust our estimates, because they may omit important consequences that we have some awareness of, or track the wrong variables. But when people bring cost-effectiveness estimates up, there is often an implicit claim to priority (or one may be read in even if not intended).
“Cost-effectiveness is one of the classic tools used in prioritisation, and at least in theory a higher level of cost-effectiveness should exactly imply higher priority. Now the issue is that we don’t trust our estimates, because they may omit important consequences that we have some awareness of, or track the wrong variables.”
I totally agree.
“But when people bring cost-effectiveness estimates up, there is often an implicit claim to priority (or one may be read in even if not intended).”
I would agree with the point in parentheses, but often it’s just brought up as one factor in a multitude of decision-making criteria. And I think that’s a good place for it, at least until we get better at it.
> Cost-effectiveness calculations are employed by every EA prioritization organization, and nobody is claiming they necessarily imply a higher priority.
Cost-effectiveness is one of the classic tools used in prioritisation, and at least in theory a higher level of cost-effectiveness should exactly imply higher priority. Now the issue is that we don’t trust our estimates, because they may omit important consequences that we have some awareness of, or track the wrong variables. But when people bring cost-effectiveness estimates up, there is often an implicit claim to priority (or one may be read in even if not intended).
“Cost-effectiveness is one of the classic tools used in prioritisation, and at least in theory a higher level of cost-effectiveness should exactly imply higher priority. Now the issue is that we don’t trust our estimates, because they may omit important consequences that we have some awareness of, or track the wrong variables.”
I totally agree.
“But when people bring cost-effectiveness estimates up, there is often an implicit claim to priority (or one may be read in even if not intended).”
I would agree with the point in parentheses, but often it’s just brought up as one factor in a multitude of decision-making criteria. And I think that’s a good place for it, at least until we get better at it.