Taking Stock, Clarifications, and Further Thoughts

Abstract

Chapter 15 takes stock of the book’s results. It notes that Peter Singer’s famous Pond Example fails to show that we should support charities like Oxfam; that there are important differences between the author’s view and Effective Altruism, but that they should not be overstated; that GiveWell’s concrete charity recommendations may be premature; and that a charity’s having positive expected utility is no guarantee that it does more good than harm. Chapter 15 observes that many of this book’s worries only apply to on-the-ground aid efforts in countries with weak or corrupt governments, or weak economies, and that, ultimately, global aid should be concerned about helping poor people, rather than poor countries, per se. Chapter 15 also emphasizes that this book’s worries are serious, and that even a small chance they are right should alter the expected utility of many international aid efforts, including that of GiveWell’s top-rated deworming charities.