Growth and the case against randomista development

Abstract

Randomista development (RD) is a form of development economics which evaluates and promotes interventions that can be tested by randomised controlled trials (RCTs). It is exemplified by GiveWell (which primarily works in health) and the randomista movement in economics (which primarily works in economic development). Here we argue for the following claims, which we believe to be quite weak: (1) Prominent economists make plausible arguments which suggest that research on and advocacy for economic growth in low- and middle-income countries is more cost-effective than the things funded by proponents of randomista development. (2) Effective altruists have devoted too little attention to these arguments. (3) Assessing the soundness of these arguments should be a key focus for current generation-focused effective altruists over the next few years.