Russ roberts on whether it’s more effective to help strangers, or people you know

Abstract

Russ Roberts, a classical liberal, questions the effectiveness of prioritizing large-scale social impact over personal relationships and micro-level problems like kindness. He argues that expanding the moral circle too broadly can undermine altruism and that empirically-derived solutions may be unreliable. Roberts also expresses skepticism about the value of global coordination efforts and the ability to eradicate unkindness. Conversely, the author emphasizes the potential for individuals to make a difference through micro-level actions and highlights the importance of personal growth and identity when considering the decision to have children. – AI-generated abstract.