What criteria do effective altruists use to evaluate the impact of different causes?

Effective altruism is a philosophy and social movement that uses evidence and reasoning to determine the most effective ways to benefit others. At its core, it aims to answer the question: "How can we do the most good?" This quest is complex and layered, requiring a methodical approach to evaluate various causes based on their potential impact. This article delves into the criteria used by effective altruists to assess and prioritize different causes, making this often intricate topic accessible to a broader audience.

Key Evaluation Criteria

Effective altruists use a structured framework to evaluate different causes. This framework consists of several key criteria:

1. Scale of the Problem

The first criterion is the scale or magnitude of the problem. How many people are affected, and to what degree are their lives impacted? When considering the scale, effective altruists look at both the breadth and the depth of the issue.

• Breadth: This involves assessing the number of individuals impacted by the problem. For instance, global health issues like malaria affect millions of people, making it a large-scale problem.
• Depth: This pertains to the severity of the impact on individuals' lives. Diseases that lead to severe suffering or premature death represent problems with significant depth.

In summary, an issue is considered high-priority if it affects a large number of people in a severe way.

2. Tractability

Tractability refers to how solvable the problem is. If a problem seems impossible or highly complex to solve, it may not be a practical focus for resources, even if it is very large in scale.

• Evidence of Success: Effective altruists look for evidence that interventions can make a tangible difference. For example, the success of bed nets in preventing malaria showcases tractability.
• Resource Requirements: They also examine whether the amount of resources needed to solve or mitigate the problem is reasonable or attainable.

A tractable problem is one where there is a clear and achievable path to making significant progress.

3. Neglectedness

The criterion of neglectedness asks whether the problem is receiving adequate attention and funding from other sources. A highly visible issue that already benefits from substantial resources might be considered less neglected and, therefore, a lower priority for additional efforts from effective altruists.

• Funding and Attention: Problems that are underfunded and lack widespread recognition are likely more neglected.
• Opportunity for Impact: Neglected problems offer a higher opportunity for impact since new investments or actions can fill a critical gap.

Efforts are often more impactful in areas that are overlooked by mainstream philanthropy and governments.

4. Cost-Effectiveness

Lastly, cost-effectiveness evaluates how efficiently resources are converted into positive outcomes. Effective altruists seek to maximize the good done per dollar spent.

• Intervention Analysis: This involves comparing different interventions to see which ones deliver the most significant benefit for the least cost.
• Outcome Measurement: Clear metrics and outcomes (e.g., lives saved, diseases cured) are crucial for determining cost-effectiveness.

A focus on cost-effectiveness ensures that resources are allocated in a way that yields the highest return on investment in terms of social good.

Example Applications

To illustrate how these criteria are applied, let's consider two example causes: global health and animal welfare.

Global Health

• Scale: Diseases like malaria and tuberculosis affect millions of people worldwide, creating vast suffering.
• Tractability: Proven interventions like vaccines, bed nets, and antibiotics can dramatically reduce the incidence of these diseases.
• Neglectedness: While global health receives significant attention, specific diseases in certain regions might still be overlooked.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Interventions in global health, such as vaccination programs, often have high cost-effectiveness, saving lives at relatively low costs.

Animal Welfare

• Scale: Animal agriculture impacts billions of animals annually, causing widespread suffering.
• Tractability: Reducing meat consumption and improving animal welfare standards are practical and achievable goals.
• Neglectedness: Compared to human welfare, animal welfare issues receive less funding and attention.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Campaigns to reduce animal suffering can be highly effective, given the high number of animals impacted.

Conclusion

Evaluating the impact of different causes through the lenses of scale, tractability, neglectedness, and cost-effectiveness helps effective altruists make informed decisions about where to deploy their resources. This structured approach ensures that efforts are focused on areas where they can make the most significant difference, ultimately striving to improve the world in the most efficient and effective ways possible. By understanding and applying these criteria, each of us can contribute to this mission and be part of a movement that aims to maximize positive impact on a global scale.