What beats intuition when it comes to doing good? (with Marcus Davis)

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Mar 27, 2026

Marcus A. Davis, co-founder and CEO of Rethink Priorities, researches how to direct resources for maximum good. He explores why identical interventions often cost less in poorer regions and what drives cost-effectiveness differences. He argues radically different causes can be compared, discusses moral uncertainty and modeling big decisions, and offers practical guidance for everyday donors.

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ANECDOTE

Personal Lead Filter Cost Example

Marcus recounts buying a $50–$60/month lead water filter while living near the University of Chicago and never drinking tap water for 2.5 years.
He contrasts that personal affordance with people in poor countries who couldn't afford such a monthly cost.

ANECDOTE

Spreadsheet To Choose A Family Car

Marcus used an explicit spreadsheet to choose a car after his baby was born, capturing rebates, charger installation, and maintenance to compare hybrid vs electric.
The model helped because he couldn't hold all variables in his head for a multi-thousand-dollar decision.

ADVICE

Give Small Donations To Evaluated High Impact Groups

If you're giving a small amount (e.g., $1,000), prioritize evidence-backed charities rather than deep philosophical aggregation.
Marcus recommends GiveWell as an accessible evaluator identifying highly cost-effective charities like bed-net distribution.

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Can radically different forms of good really be compared? What makes two charitable outcomes commensurable? When does cost effectiveness become a moral argument rather than just an economic one? Is helping the global poor often cheaper for reasons that are ethically relevant? How should we weigh temporary enrichment against preventing severe suffering? At what point does refusing comparison become morally evasive? Are some value systems too implausible to treat as equally serious? How much should location matter when the same intervention works in multiple places? Does the ability to compare causes require a single theory of value? What do we lose by pretending all forms of good are incomparable?

Marcus A. Davis is the co-founder and CEO of Rethink Priorities, a think-and-do tank that uses rigorous empirical research to help philanthropists, policymakers, and cause-focused organizations direct resources where they'll do the most good. Marcus writes about effective charity, EA culture, and arguments around doing good at his Substack, Charity for All, and you can also follow him on Bluesky: amarcusdavis.bsky.social.

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Spencer Greenberg — Host + Director
Ryan Kessler — Producer + Technical Lead
WeAmplify — Transcriptionists
Igor Scaldini — Marketing Consultant

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