Though one thing I should have mentioned explicitly in the post is that being illegible and distributed is only one of the failure modes of regulation, but certainly not the only one. For example, many US cities have building height limits which economists have estimated are causing billions in deadweight loss, higher rents, etc. But a building height limit is very legible and clear. Still, somehow the relevant government bodies are often too captured by concentrated activist groups and don’t consider expected value on the broader public.
Btw, I think The Power Broker is an interesting book to read regarding focused projects. There are many legitimate criticisms of Robert Moses, but still it is remarkable how he basically built a startup within the NY government that was much more competent, efficient, and visionary than the rest of the political system.
It’s possible to imagine focused projects to drive down costs of e.g. sequencing and sterilisation tech, and then maybe following up with regulation which requires specific tech be installed to clear standards, enforced by a specific agency.
Is there a good read regarding regulatory proposals for these technologies in particular? I worry that wide regulation around sequencing in particular might slow down tech that I think will be good, like CRISPR therapies or embryo selection. Or maybe that’s a category error?
Just skimming the subjects, I can tell that this will be the best interview of him I’ve seen so far, congratulations on getting him on. I am now a subscriber, and listening.
If you post another interview of him I will buy a sub on your substack for sure
Great point Fin!
Though one thing I should have mentioned explicitly in the post is that being illegible and distributed is only one of the failure modes of regulation, but certainly not the only one. For example, many US cities have building height limits which economists have estimated are causing billions in deadweight loss, higher rents, etc. But a building height limit is very legible and clear. Still, somehow the relevant government bodies are often too captured by concentrated activist groups and don’t consider expected value on the broader public.
Btw, I think The Power Broker is an interesting book to read regarding focused projects. There are many legitimate criticisms of Robert Moses, but still it is remarkable how he basically built a startup within the NY government that was much more competent, efficient, and visionary than the rest of the political system.
Is there a good read regarding regulatory proposals for these technologies in particular? I worry that wide regulation around sequencing in particular might slow down tech that I think will be good, like CRISPR therapies or embryo selection. Or maybe that’s a category error?
Almost any intervention that slows down embryo selection is a net negative for the world, regardless of what other positives come along with it.
Embryo selection is probably the highest ROI cause for EA around, and it’s possible right now, it is crazy that Hsu is not getting more attention.
I agree! Not sure if you saw my interview of Steve Hsu on my podcast, where we get deep into the weeds on embryo selection: https://www.dwarkeshpatel.com/p/steve-hsu
You got him to talk about the gwern analysis!
Just skimming the subjects, I can tell that this will be the best interview of him I’ve seen so far, congratulations on getting him on. I am now a subscriber, and listening.
If you post another interview of him I will buy a sub on your substack for sure
Don’t have paid subs, but thank you! Glad you enjoyed!