EconTalk Peter Singer on The Life You Can Save
Feb 17, 2020
Peter Singer, a renowned bioethicist from Princeton University and author of "The Life You Can Save," discusses the moral responsibilities of those in affluent societies. He argues for the necessity of giving up luxuries to combat global poverty. The conversation delves into the ethics of saving lives, the challenges of effective altruism, and the importance of impactful charitable giving. They also touch on immigration's role in poverty alleviation and the dual nature of tribalism in fostering community or exclusion.
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Aid Effectiveness and the Knowledge Problem
- Roberts acknowledges the decrease in poverty but credits it to economic growth in countries like China and India, rather than aid.
- He raises concerns about aid's effectiveness and the difficulty of knowing how to help from a distance.
Measuring Aid's Impact
- Peter Singer highlights how randomized trials, similar to pharmaceutical testing, are used to assess interventions for poverty.
- He cites Give Directly and Village Enterprise as examples.
Beyond Relieving Suffering: Flourishing
- Russ Roberts emphasizes that helping people flourish, not just avoid suffering, is crucial.
- Creating access to markets and opportunities for meaningful work is key.
