Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Make a Difference

by William MacAskill

We don’t usually think of achievements in terms of what would have happened otherwise, but we should. What matters is not who does good but whether good is done; and the measure of how much good you achieve is the difference between what happens as a result of your actions and what would have happened anyway.

Looking at what would have happened otherwise is a fundamental piece of scientific reasoning, referred to as assessing the counterfactual. But the mistake of neglecting the counterfactual is rife within the world of altruism, and this mistake can have terrible consequences.

Earning to give means exactly what it sounds like: rather than trying to maximize the direct impact you have with your job, you instead try to increase your earnings so you can donate more, improving people’s lives through your giving rather than your day-to-day work. Most people don’t consider this option when choosing a career that “makes a difference.” But time and money are normally interchangeable—money can pay for people’s time, and your time can be used to earn money—so there’s no reason to assume the best careers are only those that benefit people directly through the work itself. If we’re

Because of this, Greg decided to earn to give, planning to specialize in medical oncology. “I found it pretty humbling, when I looked at the difference. I’d save a few lives through my direct impact as a doctor,” Greg told me. “Which was less than I thought, but still great. But through my donations, I could save hundreds of lives.” For Greg, the same reasons that made him want to go into medicine made it clear to him that he should start donating, too. “I started out giving around ten percent. But I’ve gradually been increasing that, as I found that I really didn’t miss the money. Now I’m donating about fifty percent and my life is, if anything, better than it was. I feel that I’m doing justice to my seventeen-year-old self who wanted to make the world a better place.” In 2014, Greg donated £20,000, enough to save ten lives.

Some of the top charities I’ve mentioned in this book are Against Malaria Foundation, Cool Earth, Development Media International, Deworm the World Initiative, GiveDirectly, and the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative. Pick whichever you believe to be best and begin a habit of effective donations. Even a relatively small monthly donation to these charities will have a big impact.