We know that cash transfers reduce poverty, improve health and enhance education but what impact do they have on how people feel and think about their lives? We find that cash transfers have a small, positive effect on subjective wellbeing, one that lasts for several years. Download report as PDF The final version of this paper […]
There are long-standing doubts about whether data from subjective scales are cardinally comparable—should we, for instance, believe that if two people self-report their happiness as ‘7/10’ then they are as happy as each other? It is unclear how to assess whether these doubts are justified without first addressing two unresolved theoretical questions: how do people […]
Millions suffer excruciating pain. Millions more suffer moderate or severe pain. They suffer despite the fact that cheap and effective treatments exist. This report briefly discusses the measurement of pain then explores three major causes of pain and what might be done to relieve them. Download report as PDF Executive summary Executive summary We all […]
This short article summarises what philosophers do (and don’t) mean by the term “wellbeing”. It introduces the three main rival accounts of what wellbeing is and considers their theoretical strengths and weaknesses. Download report as PDF 1. The concept 2. Theories of wellbeing 3. Practical implications HLI conducts both theoretical and applied research in order […]
We show how Wellbeing-Adjusted Life Years (WELLBYs) can be used to estimate the value of different outcomes. We then estimate the values of two key inputs in GiveWell’s analysis: doubling consumption for one person for one year and averting the death of a child under 5 years old. Download report as PDF Summary Summary To […]
This working paper makes three main claims: 1) life satisfaction theories are indistinguishable from global desire theories; 2) these theories are the only subjectivist accounts of wellbeing; and 3) subjectivism is implausible, although for different reasons from those that are usually given. Download report as PDF Abstract 1. Introduction 2. Life satisfaction theories and subjectivism […]