My own thoughts: In farmed animal welfare, I think itās possible for EAs to influence state governments to fund research and development on alternative proteins (especially through land-grant universities like Cornell University in New York) and improve regulations on animal agriculture. It may also be possible to change state and local environmental laws to improve wild animal welfare.
Update February 4, 2022: Iāve become more convinced that most EAs interested in influencing policy should not frame EA causes as foreign policy issues. While this is a useful framing for some organizations (e.g. Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Center for Global Development), itās inherently limiting because it is very difficult for the average citizen to influence foreign policy. Itās easier for the average citizen to influence national domestic policy, and easier still for them to influence state and local policy.
Also, Iāve thought of more EA causes that could be worked on with high leverage at the subnational level:
Improving institutions: Local and state governments are natural ālaboratories of democracy,ā so they are great venues in which to test novel institutions before scaling them up. Iām particularly excited about experimental institutions that could improve democracy along these dimensions. For example, many municipalities have adopted alternative voting systems, such as ranked-choice voting and approval voting. Iād also like to see more experiments with novel approaches to deliberative democracy, such as quadratic voting and whatever Polis is.
Biosecurity: U.S. state and local governments have enacted various responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, with varying results. We could lobby for policies to help state and local governments prepare for the next pandemic.
Climate change is another policy area where state and local governments can take the lead (and have done so).
AI regulation: there is some precedent for state and local governments regulating information technology, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act and San Franciscoās facial recognition ban. Likewise, states could be laboratories for regulations designed to mitigate the worst risks from AI and other emerging technologies.
Mental health and extreme poverty could be worked on at the state and local levels.
My own thoughts: In farmed animal welfare, I think itās possible for EAs to influence state governments to fund research and development on alternative proteins (especially through land-grant universities like Cornell University in New York) and improve regulations on animal agriculture. It may also be possible to change state and local environmental laws to improve wild animal welfare.
Update February 4, 2022: Iāve become more convinced that most EAs interested in influencing policy should not frame EA causes as foreign policy issues. While this is a useful framing for some organizations (e.g. Center for Security and Emerging Technology, Center for Global Development), itās inherently limiting because it is very difficult for the average citizen to influence foreign policy. Itās easier for the average citizen to influence national domestic policy, and easier still for them to influence state and local policy.
Also, Iāve thought of more EA causes that could be worked on with high leverage at the subnational level:
Improving institutions: Local and state governments are natural ālaboratories of democracy,ā so they are great venues in which to test novel institutions before scaling them up. Iām particularly excited about experimental institutions that could improve democracy along these dimensions. For example, many municipalities have adopted alternative voting systems, such as ranked-choice voting and approval voting. Iād also like to see more experiments with novel approaches to deliberative democracy, such as quadratic voting and whatever Polis is.
Biosecurity: U.S. state and local governments have enacted various responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, with varying results. We could lobby for policies to help state and local governments prepare for the next pandemic.
Climate change is another policy area where state and local governments can take the lead (and have done so).
AI regulation: there is some precedent for state and local governments regulating information technology, such as the California Consumer Privacy Act and San Franciscoās facial recognition ban. Likewise, states could be laboratories for regulations designed to mitigate the worst risks from AI and other emerging technologies.
Mental health and extreme poverty could be worked on at the state and local levels.