TLDR: Effective Altruism likes numbers, therefore there is bias towards projects that are easily quantifiable. What about big impactful ideas that make intuitive sense but are not that easy to put into a spreadsheet?
Trying to evaluate impact of large scale infrastructure projects that have loads of 2nd and 3rd effects. Maybe there is already a dedicated working group specialising in that?
Not a pipe dream. The Cape Town-Cairo railway in the making 100 years ago (but then Great Depression, WW2, collapse of the British Empire).
Thinking about financing models. Thinking about resolving geopolitical instability (something that has to be done anyway). I genuinely believe that the project has loads of potential but not obvious how to put the numbers into a spreadsheet.
Some other impactful projects with loads of 2nd and 3rd effects, not easy to quantify:
Onboarding 3 billion people not connected to the internet
Greatly appreciating feedback / comments / ideas that bring positive value. Of course I know it will be difficult to achieve but I remain optimistic no matter what.
Measuring impact — EA bias towards numbers?
Link post
TLDR: Effective Altruism likes numbers, therefore there is bias towards projects that are easily quantifiable. What about big impactful ideas that make intuitive sense but are not that easy to put into a spreadsheet?
Posted on the blog:
https://mirror.xyz/0x315f80C7cAaCBE7Fb1c14E65A634db89A33A9637/G4Qt_Cr8vMUKGbkEjAZu7Fly9c-igAViP5VZ3mb0rjc
Trying to evaluate impact of large scale infrastructure projects that have loads of 2nd and 3rd effects. Maybe there is already a dedicated working group specialising in that?
Not a pipe dream. The Cape Town-Cairo railway in the making 100 years ago (but then Great Depression, WW2, collapse of the British Empire).
Thinking about financing models. Thinking about resolving geopolitical instability (something that has to be done anyway). I genuinely believe that the project has loads of potential but not obvious how to put the numbers into a spreadsheet.
Some other impactful projects with loads of 2nd and 3rd effects, not easy to quantify:
Onboarding 3 billion people not connected to the internet
Universal basic water
Slow internet / benefits of universal access
Chineese fishing boats
Chineese water management
Once again link to the blog: https://mirror.xyz/0x315f80C7cAaCBE7Fb1c14E65A634db89A33A9637/G4Qt_Cr8vMUKGbkEjAZu7Fly9c-igAViP5VZ3mb0rjc
Greatly appreciating feedback / comments / ideas that bring positive value. Of course I know it will be difficult to achieve but I remain optimistic no matter what.