Hello Mo, “I do think there’s something to the critique, but I’d like to understand it better.” is actually the sentiment that led me to write the post.
I believe the proponents of systematic change critique of EA usually undervalue tractability and overestimate the chance of success for radical interventions. I do disagree with most pro-systemic change critiques of EA. I think when people talk about systemic change, they usually don’t clearly define what it is (and isn’t), as well as which systemic change interventions are above EAs’ bar, and why that’s the case. Usually, when people make the case for systemic change, it’s quite frequently (i) anti-capitalist, radical policy advocacy, (ii) anti-authoritarianism interventions or (iii) a case for fundamental changes to the national/global systems, and a case against gradual, marginal improvements
I don’t agree with the directions of these critiques, but I do directionally agree with what they criticize.
The somewhat classical EA response of “We support lead paint bans, anti-cruently laws as well as things like YIMBY advocacy” is somewhat insufficient. As within global health and development, delivery interventions are clearly majority/most of the portfolio. At the same time, policy interventions also tend to focus on fairly “apolitical” issues such as lead paint. There are examples, but they are obviously underrepresented in the GH portfolio, and I don’t think there is a good articulation of why they are appropriately represented.
The most concrete gap in EAs’ portfolio where the “systemic change” critique is powerful, in my opinion is health systems strengthening broadly construed.
For a movement that aims to tackle global inequalities and urgent global issues, there is a curious lack of interest, funding and talent working on improving health systems. For various questions and advocacy agendas such as “How can LMIC governments fund healthcare systems after the aid cuts?”, “How to improve the procurement of/access to affordable generic medicines?”, “How to expand PHC in countries with at least some financial/technical infrastructure” are all questions where the EA ecosystem unfortunately don’t have much to offer (unless you are an EA funder looking to commission research). And contrary to anti-capitalist advocacy or radical political reform, these questions and agendas are somewhat tractable work on, and at least worth exploring in my opinion.
Hello Mo, “I do think there’s something to the critique, but I’d like to understand it better.” is actually the sentiment that led me to write the post.
I believe the proponents of systematic change critique of EA usually undervalue tractability and overestimate the chance of success for radical interventions. I do disagree with most pro-systemic change critiques of EA. I think when people talk about systemic change, they usually don’t clearly define what it is (and isn’t), as well as which systemic change interventions are above EAs’ bar, and why that’s the case. Usually, when people make the case for systemic change, it’s quite frequently (i) anti-capitalist, radical policy advocacy, (ii) anti-authoritarianism interventions or (iii) a case for fundamental changes to the national/global systems, and a case against gradual, marginal improvements
I don’t agree with the directions of these critiques, but I do directionally agree with what they criticize.
The somewhat classical EA response of “We support lead paint bans, anti-cruently laws as well as things like YIMBY advocacy” is somewhat insufficient. As within global health and development, delivery interventions are clearly majority/most of the portfolio. At the same time, policy interventions also tend to focus on fairly “apolitical” issues such as lead paint. There are examples, but they are obviously underrepresented in the GH portfolio, and I don’t think there is a good articulation of why they are appropriately represented.
The most concrete gap in EAs’ portfolio where the “systemic change” critique is powerful, in my opinion is health systems strengthening broadly construed.
For a movement that aims to tackle global inequalities and urgent global issues, there is a curious lack of interest, funding and talent working on improving health systems. For various questions and advocacy agendas such as “How can LMIC governments fund healthcare systems after the aid cuts?”, “How to improve the procurement of/access to affordable generic medicines?”, “How to expand PHC in countries with at least some financial/technical infrastructure” are all questions where the EA ecosystem unfortunately don’t have much to offer (unless you are an EA funder looking to commission research). And contrary to anti-capitalist advocacy or radical political reform, these questions and agendas are somewhat tractable work on, and at least worth exploring in my opinion.