In a discouraging world, we can afford to change things

Takeaways:

• The world has a lot of appalling problems. Many can’t be addressed very well with money, but some can.
• On a rich-country income, you almost surely have some income you could dedicate to making the world better in whatever way seems best to you.
• This is best done not impulsively and sporadically, but deliberately as part of your ongoing budget.
• Donating a fraction of your income is a pretty great opportunity to make the world more like what you want it to be: with less suffering, more progress, more fairness, or whatever seems best to you.
• You don’t have to agree with my choice of where to donate! Think it through yourself!
• My ask to you for the coming year: think seriously about how much you want to give, and where you want to give it. One tool that I recommend is making a pledge (either for a period of time, or ongoing).