I earn to heal. GiveWell estimated 23,000 mosquito bed nets, 2000 deworming annual doses, and 1000 Vitamin A annual doses healed 24 people. Pratham and EducateGirls estimated literacy lessons for 200 girls improved their English and Hindi.
ethankennerly
Karma: 14
Which helped more? (Donating to AMF in 2010 or 2020)
Donation in 2021
[Question] $1 to extend an infant’s life by one day?
[Question] What are some interventions before 1920 that improved human well-being 100 years later?
[Question] In one hour, how could one donor compare the benefit of one marginal USD from 1921 to protect civilization in 2021?
These tips felt relevant to my chats with teammates at Electronic Arts who participate in social impact.
A couple of highlights resonated with me:
Community & discussion oriented activities are probably high ROI
Employees tended to be more skeptical about longtermism compared to the average EA
Sjlver, you cited the article titled “Health and agricultural productivity: Evidence from Zambia.” If I’m reading well, the randomized controlled trial measured about 10% to 15% increase in income during the next year for a population with free bednets.
That is a perfect example of the kinds of facts that I have been searching for. I welcome any more evidence.
Now I cited that exemplary article. In a spreadsheet cell.
Also, in the past few days I revised some estimates and sources of facts.
I ignorantly estimated of 3% to 5% compounding opportunity cost in annual productivity from malaria alone. This is based on a comment from Rob Mathers at a World Malaria Day presentation about the total economic opportunity cost of malaria per year divided by the income of an estimated population at risk of malaria. It is a crude estimate.
Phil’s discussion had inspired the historical scenario of donating to AMF in 2010 or 2020. As can be seen in the crude estimates so far, I am currently uncertain. Therefore, I agree with you, Sjlver, that with such high uncertainty it seems to be a deadly gamble to delay a gift by 10 years.
Again anyone’s comments on facts from 2010 to 2020 would inform an estimate of this historical scenario. If I can understand a simple historical scenario, then it would inform my giving plans for the future.