It depends on the EA. I donāt know if there is a universal trend or generalized flaws. EAs seem so diverse that itās hard to generalize.
Still, if I generalize based on what Iāve read and whom Iāve talked to, hereās what I see:
1. EAs sometimes forget political economy issues. When they offer a political policy that would work, they forget that it will likely be captured by others who donāt share their values, or that the people running it will possibly be incompetent. In general, for politics, I recommend imagining that your preferred policies will cost 3 times what you expect and deliver 1/ā3rd the goods. Look at how incompetent the US government is and then remember institutions like this will be in charge.
2. EAs sometimes forget that most other people are not rationalists and do not base their opinions on evidence. The EA message doesnāt sell not because their arguments are badātheir arguments are sound!--but but because good arguments do not persuade people.
What do you think EAs get wrong about politics?
It depends on the EA. I donāt know if there is a universal trend or generalized flaws. EAs seem so diverse that itās hard to generalize.
Still, if I generalize based on what Iāve read and whom Iāve talked to, hereās what I see:
1. EAs sometimes forget political economy issues. When they offer a political policy that would work, they forget that it will likely be captured by others who donāt share their values, or that the people running it will possibly be incompetent. In general, for politics, I recommend imagining that your preferred policies will cost 3 times what you expect and deliver 1/ā3rd the goods. Look at how incompetent the US government is and then remember institutions like this will be in charge.
2. EAs sometimes forget that most other people are not rationalists and do not base their opinions on evidence. The EA message doesnāt sell not because their arguments are badātheir arguments are sound!--but but because good arguments do not persuade people.