Unexpectedly daring suggestion: Increase happiness rather than merely health and riches
What would you do if I offered you a total of five right now and told you to use it whatever you thought would most benefit people? Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash With that amount of money, 1,000 bed nets that prevent malaria can be purchased, saving the life of one child on average. Alternatively, it can increase five impoverished households’ incomes by $1,000 apiece. Alternatively, it can cover the cost of a few months of group treatment for thirty individuals suffering from depression, which may have long-term benefits. Nobody can be certain, and that is a dilemma that affects everyone, from common citizens looking to donate a few dollars to governments with millions to spend on public policy. It can be difficult to determine which is more beneficial — saving one life, alleviating poverty for a small number of people, or treating mental illness for dozens of people — and it can be unethical to even pose the question. However, if we want our money to go as far as po...