Key Ideas
Happier Lives Institute, 2024
Abstract
Effective altruism is a philosophy that suggests people should donate to charities that maximize happiness. Many people are not effective givers because they do not know how to give effectively, or prefer to donate to causes they are attached to even if less impactful. Donors mistakenly believe the best charities are only slightly better than average ones, when in actuality, some charities are hundreds or thousands of times more effective. Happiness, which is defined as experiencing more joy than suffering, can be measured by asking standardized questions about life satisfaction. The number of academic publications on happiness has increased since the 1970s, and multiple governments now incorporate happiness data into policy decisions. Cost-effectiveness in charities can be measured using WELLBYs, or wellbeing-adjusted life years. Some charities are far more cost-effective than others at creating happiness, making it possible to achieve large impacts at relatively small costs. – AI-generated abstract.
