How to measure impact, and why we may have all been doing it wrong (with Michael Plant)

Oct 24, 2021 1h 10m 13 insights Episode Page ↗
Spencer Greenberg speaks with Michael Plant, founder of the Happier Lives Institute, about using subjective well-being (happiness and life satisfaction) as the primary metric for evaluating interventions. They discuss the surprising finding that psychotherapy can be significantly more cost-effective than cash transfers in improving well-being, and critique traditional prioritization frameworks.
Actionable Insights

1. Support Mental Health Interventions

Prioritize funding and implementing mental health interventions, specifically group psychotherapy delivered by non-specialists in low-income countries, as research indicates they are significantly more cost-effective (e.g., 12x) than cash transfers for improving well-being.

2. Prioritize Subjective Well-being

Shift from proxy measures like health (QUALYs/DALYs) or income to direct self-reported happiness and life satisfaction when evaluating the impact of interventions, as these are closer to what ultimately matters.

3. Retire SNT Framework

Abandon the “Scale, Neglectedness, Tractability” framework for cause prioritization and instead directly evaluate the expected value and cost-effectiveness of specific, actionable interventions.

4. Model Uncertainty with Simulations

When evaluating intervention effectiveness, use Monte Carlo simulations to account for uncertainty in various factors, leading to more robust and confident conclusions about impact.

5. Focus on Chronic Mental Suffering

Prioritize interventions that address chronic mental anxiety and physical pain, as these are conditions people do not adapt to and consistently reduce happiness, potentially being overlooked by other measures.

6. Advocate for Happiness in Policy

Advocate for governments to adopt happiness as the ultimate measure for judging public policy, polling people on a 1-10 scale and using this data to guide decisions for long-term societal well-being.

7. Evaluate Personal Project Value

When considering a personal project, ensure it offers unique value (neglectedness), aligns with your skills (tractability), and has the potential for significant positive impact if successful (scale).

8. Collect Detailed Happiness Data

Prioritize collecting more detailed happiness data using methods like the experience sampling method to better understand people’s moment-by-moment enjoyment of life, rather than solely relying on life satisfaction.

9. Trust Cross-Cultural Happiness Data

Rely on cross-cultural comparisons of self-reported happiness scales, as research suggests a consistent understanding and use of these scales across different cultures.

10. Leverage Philosophical Rigor

Apply philosophical rigor to clearly define what truly matters and use clear-headed analysis to determine the most effective and practical actions to achieve those goals.

11. Investigate Micro-Interventions

Research and potentially support micro-interventions such as the Friendship Bench mental health charity, mental health apps, cataract surgery, fistula surgery, and providing cement flooring, as these show promise for high cost-effectiveness.

12. Explore Meso-Interventions

Investigate meso-level interventions including researching psychedelics for mental health treatment, improving access to opiates for pain relief in poor regions, and evaluating the impact of changes in recreational drug laws.

13. Support Happier Lives Institute

Consider donating to the Happier Lives Institute to fund ongoing research into effective ways to improve global well-being, particularly in areas like mental health interventions.