What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place
the world faces myriad challenges - yet we are constrained by scarce resources. In the 21st Century, how do we deal with natural disasters, tackle global warming, achieve better nutrition, educate children...and address countless other urgent global issues?
If you want to change the world, this inspiring and enlightening book is for you. Bjørn Lomborg presents the costs and benefits of the smartest solutions to twelve global problems. By prioritizing the top solutions, this helps us better spend $75 billion to do the most good.
Featuring the cutting edge research of more than sixty eminent economists, including four Nobel Laureates, produced for the Copenhagen Consensus, this book with inform, enlighten and motivate actions to make our world a better place.
If you want to change the world, this inspiring and enlightening book is for you. Bjørn Lomborg presents the costs and benefits of the smartest solutions to twelve global problems. By prioritizing the top solutions, this helps us better spend $75 billion to do the most good.
Featuring the cutting edge research of more than sixty eminent economists, including four Nobel Laureates, produced for the Copenhagen Consensus, this book with inform, enlighten and motivate actions to make our world a better place.
146 pages, Paperback
First published June 12, 2006
232 people are currently reading
2783 people want to read
About the author
Bjørn Lomborg
43 books358 followersBjørn Lomborg is a Danish author and president of his think tank, the Copenhagen Consensus Center. He is former director of the Danish government's Environmental Assessment Institute (EAI) in Copenhagen. He became internationally known for his best-selling and controversial 2001 book, The Skeptical Environmentalist, in which he argues that many of the costly measures and actions adopted by scientists and policy makers to meet the challenges of global warming will ultimately have minimal impact on the world's rising temperature.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 15, 2025
I found this book lacking, which is a shame as I found the premise interesting. It is almost like reading an abstract for a series of really interesting essays. It touches on areas without digging deeper into them.
Nancy Stokey's contribution was the most engaging for me, as she actually looked at some of the specifics of the proposed interventions and solutions.
Nancy Stokey's contribution was the most engaging for me, as she actually looked at some of the specifics of the proposed interventions and solutions.
December 19, 2019
This book doesn't distinguish between throwing money at a problem versus changing the culture that produced the problem. It lacks countless meaningful distinctions.
June 12, 2024
A short read that does well to introduce the reader to a a range of challenges and solutions facing the world. The interesting analysis from the Copenhagen Consensus looking at how we best rank and order wellbeing initiatives is a useful thought process that provides one of the more compelling methods of designing interventions. The book should be read as an interesting reference for further reading and a guide to thinking about how to use resources.
January 25, 2022
This is an interesting academic study of some of the problems facing the World. Teams of economists including Nobel Laureates have been brought together by the Copenhagen Institute under Bjorn Lomborg to consider which problems can be solved or at least ameliorated, whilst offering the most benefit for each dollar that is spent. That is not to infer that there should be a profit motive’ involved in solving problems, but a recognition that resources are limited and best employed where the money will do the most good.
Interestingly, anthropogenic ‘climate change’ whilst recognised by many as the most serious problem facing the World today doesn’t make it onto the first page. Whilst acknowledging the scale of the problem and arguing that potential solutions should be pursued with vigour, none exist at present. Neither do any effective means of accurately measuring the relative success of any potential solutions. The inference here is that whilst ‘Climate Change’ may be a critical problem it is not the only serious problem the World faces and that these other issues should not be ignored. Indeed, the Copenhagen Institute findings are that the provision of micro-nutrients to children in less-developed countries, the treatment of infectious diseases and improved sanitation offer enormous benefits for each 1$ spent.
This is not a ‘page turner’ offering up instant solutions and controversial opinions. It is however, a carefully argued study of how some of the difficult and seemingly intractable problems facing humanity might be solved or at least mitigated at relatively little cost in global terms. My own view is that if you want to listen to a critical, well informed and balanced view of global problems from Skandinavia, let it be Professor Bjorn Lomborg. Recommended.
Interestingly, anthropogenic ‘climate change’ whilst recognised by many as the most serious problem facing the World today doesn’t make it onto the first page. Whilst acknowledging the scale of the problem and arguing that potential solutions should be pursued with vigour, none exist at present. Neither do any effective means of accurately measuring the relative success of any potential solutions. The inference here is that whilst ‘Climate Change’ may be a critical problem it is not the only serious problem the World faces and that these other issues should not be ignored. Indeed, the Copenhagen Institute findings are that the provision of micro-nutrients to children in less-developed countries, the treatment of infectious diseases and improved sanitation offer enormous benefits for each 1$ spent.
This is not a ‘page turner’ offering up instant solutions and controversial opinions. It is however, a carefully argued study of how some of the difficult and seemingly intractable problems facing humanity might be solved or at least mitigated at relatively little cost in global terms. My own view is that if you want to listen to a critical, well informed and balanced view of global problems from Skandinavia, let it be Professor Bjorn Lomborg. Recommended.
June 5, 2019
Empower brain power.
September 5, 2021
Very dry.
June 10, 2022
(1.5)
Honestly pretty bad as a book. As many have stated already this book could of used a lot more back story and explanations. Just a super dry read.
Honestly pretty bad as a book. As many have stated already this book could of used a lot more back story and explanations. Just a super dry read.
December 7, 2020
Good short book to understand the world's greatest problems and how to find the solutions.
November 13, 2014
How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place (2013) by Bjorn Lomborg is a short summary of The Copenhagen Consensus project that got experts in various areas to work out the cost benefit ratios of various forms of aid and then got a panel of economists including multiple Nobel Prize winners to judge them. It's a great idea and remarkable because cost benefit analysis seems to have been little used when thinking about aid spending.
The book is not a good read. The solutions are presented, the conclusion described and then five Nobel Prize winning economists present their ideas. Then the cost benefit ratios for all the options are briefly described. The book is a collection of essays with the most important parts being the cost benefit ratios that are essentially just presented.
The best options for spending have been, in order, micronutrients for children, fighting malaria, immunisation, deworming, fighting TB and R & D spending on agriculture.
The idea behind the Copenhagen Consensus is a really good one and the basic idea, that of applying standard accounting and economics practices to evaluating aid is a really valuable contribution. Micronutrient spending seems to have benefited from people reading the conclusion.
The weaknesses of the approach are in the accuracy of the cost benefit analysis and trying to apply it to things like reducing corruption and increasing free trade. These things would increase wealth substantially but are very difficult to achieve in practice.
The book may be worth having as a reference but it's not nearly as interesting or as well put together as Lomborg's other books.
The book is not a good read. The solutions are presented, the conclusion described and then five Nobel Prize winning economists present their ideas. Then the cost benefit ratios for all the options are briefly described. The book is a collection of essays with the most important parts being the cost benefit ratios that are essentially just presented.
The best options for spending have been, in order, micronutrients for children, fighting malaria, immunisation, deworming, fighting TB and R & D spending on agriculture.
The idea behind the Copenhagen Consensus is a really good one and the basic idea, that of applying standard accounting and economics practices to evaluating aid is a really valuable contribution. Micronutrient spending seems to have benefited from people reading the conclusion.
The weaknesses of the approach are in the accuracy of the cost benefit analysis and trying to apply it to things like reducing corruption and increasing free trade. These things would increase wealth substantially but are very difficult to achieve in practice.
The book may be worth having as a reference but it's not nearly as interesting or as well put together as Lomborg's other books.
November 9, 2018
It’s all good people the world is improving massively, but this books looks at the ways international aid should be or could be better spent. A good book with lots of information it’s based on the Copenhagen consensus which is a group of the best economists and they do cost/benefit to all the major issues facing the world.
The news will have you believing that the world is going to hell in a handcart. When in fact starvation is less, war is less, accessibility to clean water is up and we still have a lot to do but stop watching the news I recommend.
Education for more people is what people want but a cheaper and more effective answer is to improve nutrition cuz hungry stomachs don’t have ears.
Environment taxes don’t work especially when the technology is not ready to be adopted. Plus rich countries will find a way of changing there crops and generating money, climate change will hit poorer people much harder.
Some crazy scientists have said about maker clouds whiter to reflect more sun away from earth. Plus stratospheric aerosol injection putting more sulphur dioxide reflecting the rays away. Do you even science?
Biodiversity we need to stop cutting down forest to grow food so we must invest in research on improving yield of crops. Agricultural r&d is also a way to reduce malnutrition.
Disasters retro fitting schools in poor nations against earthquakes, then invest in community flood walls and elevate houses in danger, then improved roofing. But these projects are super expensive but a gradual improvement would save countless lives. Rather than now a disaster hit then we send money which is nice but not cost effective.
A cheaper option is installing early detection systems which can save lives and businesses. In conjunction with the above mentioned improvements is best.
Population the best idea is having more family planning in Africa as 1/4 of women want to reduce or wait till their next child, but aren’t using contraception. Which I agree but I am against abortion in all cases except if the mothers life is at risk.
Sanitation the legend that is bill gates has given grants to universities to develop a toilet that reuses human waste in the home and therefore does not require a sewage system this is in the prototype stage but this would help stop the spread of diseases.
Other community lead projects are helping but it is the old system that needs a revamp.
Infectious diseases expanding immunisation projects would save 1 million child deaths per year. Deworming drugs are very cheap and should be a priority because worms are still a huge problem in poor countries.
Chronic diseases so heart, cancer and stroke the most cost effective way to reduce these is tobacco taxation. Then even if I travel around the world my cigarettes will expensive so I’m not a big fan. Smoking has declined massively in developed countries but it’s on the rise elsewhere.
Salt reduction is another are where millions of lives can be saved, working with food manufacturers to use less salt and a campaign telling the dangers of too much salt in the diet.
Hunger and malnutrition so we produce more food than is needed but one benefit of producing even more is the cost goes down for developing nations.
An another area in micronutrients giving children a better chance to study.
These are the main point of the book if you can’t be arsed to read it.
The news will have you believing that the world is going to hell in a handcart. When in fact starvation is less, war is less, accessibility to clean water is up and we still have a lot to do but stop watching the news I recommend.
Education for more people is what people want but a cheaper and more effective answer is to improve nutrition cuz hungry stomachs don’t have ears.
Environment taxes don’t work especially when the technology is not ready to be adopted. Plus rich countries will find a way of changing there crops and generating money, climate change will hit poorer people much harder.
Some crazy scientists have said about maker clouds whiter to reflect more sun away from earth. Plus stratospheric aerosol injection putting more sulphur dioxide reflecting the rays away. Do you even science?
Biodiversity we need to stop cutting down forest to grow food so we must invest in research on improving yield of crops. Agricultural r&d is also a way to reduce malnutrition.
Disasters retro fitting schools in poor nations against earthquakes, then invest in community flood walls and elevate houses in danger, then improved roofing. But these projects are super expensive but a gradual improvement would save countless lives. Rather than now a disaster hit then we send money which is nice but not cost effective.
A cheaper option is installing early detection systems which can save lives and businesses. In conjunction with the above mentioned improvements is best.
Population the best idea is having more family planning in Africa as 1/4 of women want to reduce or wait till their next child, but aren’t using contraception. Which I agree but I am against abortion in all cases except if the mothers life is at risk.
Sanitation the legend that is bill gates has given grants to universities to develop a toilet that reuses human waste in the home and therefore does not require a sewage system this is in the prototype stage but this would help stop the spread of diseases.
Other community lead projects are helping but it is the old system that needs a revamp.
Infectious diseases expanding immunisation projects would save 1 million child deaths per year. Deworming drugs are very cheap and should be a priority because worms are still a huge problem in poor countries.
Chronic diseases so heart, cancer and stroke the most cost effective way to reduce these is tobacco taxation. Then even if I travel around the world my cigarettes will expensive so I’m not a big fan. Smoking has declined massively in developed countries but it’s on the rise elsewhere.
Salt reduction is another are where millions of lives can be saved, working with food manufacturers to use less salt and a campaign telling the dangers of too much salt in the diet.
Hunger and malnutrition so we produce more food than is needed but one benefit of producing even more is the cost goes down for developing nations.
An another area in micronutrients giving children a better chance to study.
These are the main point of the book if you can’t be arsed to read it.
September 7, 2020
It's a good book in terms of expressing different models of tackling climate change in the context of the planet's prosperity. Bjorn and the economists mentioned take a model that provides a realistic source of income in regards to combating global issues.
One thing I like about this book is the realistic measurements provided: Yes, there is no value that exceeds the planet we currently reside on. However, working from grand narratives to save the planet work in direct opposition to the system we have in place: Namely, a price-coordinated economy. Instead of imposing large carbon taxes on new technology which is still going through improvements will make this technology unviable and thus the products: Mass farming, Fashion Industry, etc could not exist in that price point. Instead it is suggested that we raise developing nations out of poverty so they can generate greater amounts of wealth and therefore pay more towards global issues. In this book it's suggested that carbon tax doubles every 10 years and the main issues to be dealth with should be sanitation, education and micronutrition in developing countries along with other factors.
Geo-engineering, while supplementative to the root cause, seems to be cheaper and more effective in the short to medium long term until developing countries are pulled out of poverty so nations across the world can take a unilateral approach to climate change. Currently, it is only the developed nations that have the free mental faculties to combat these issues due to our priviledged position: Sanitation, Sewage Systems, Industrial farming, micronutrient food processing, Fresh water, Education, warring conflict and in some cases a reduction of natural disasters.
One of the disagreements I can see generated from this book is a price tag is placed on the climate, yet without agreeing upon how we raise funds to transact on resources, R & D and such will not induce strategies to mitigate climate change.
One thing that definitely got tiring is the structure of the book, which seems like a collation of individual essays leading to the formal repetitiveness of stating "distinct economists gather together" "of which 4 are nobel lauretes" "top economists around the world" "Economists from norway, US " etc. It's like the start of a speech at every section.
One thing I like about this book is the realistic measurements provided: Yes, there is no value that exceeds the planet we currently reside on. However, working from grand narratives to save the planet work in direct opposition to the system we have in place: Namely, a price-coordinated economy. Instead of imposing large carbon taxes on new technology which is still going through improvements will make this technology unviable and thus the products: Mass farming, Fashion Industry, etc could not exist in that price point. Instead it is suggested that we raise developing nations out of poverty so they can generate greater amounts of wealth and therefore pay more towards global issues. In this book it's suggested that carbon tax doubles every 10 years and the main issues to be dealth with should be sanitation, education and micronutrition in developing countries along with other factors.
Geo-engineering, while supplementative to the root cause, seems to be cheaper and more effective in the short to medium long term until developing countries are pulled out of poverty so nations across the world can take a unilateral approach to climate change. Currently, it is only the developed nations that have the free mental faculties to combat these issues due to our priviledged position: Sanitation, Sewage Systems, Industrial farming, micronutrient food processing, Fresh water, Education, warring conflict and in some cases a reduction of natural disasters.
One of the disagreements I can see generated from this book is a price tag is placed on the climate, yet without agreeing upon how we raise funds to transact on resources, R & D and such will not induce strategies to mitigate climate change.
One thing that definitely got tiring is the structure of the book, which seems like a collation of individual essays leading to the formal repetitiveness of stating "distinct economists gather together" "of which 4 are nobel lauretes" "top economists around the world" "Economists from norway, US " etc. It's like the start of a speech at every section.
March 3, 2022
A lot of times, I certainly feel like the world is going down in spirals. The world today is so divided and solutions to problems are certainly a big debate in these types of fields. Lomberg does a great job at laying the foundation to look at a realistic view of improving the world. Whether it’s fighting malnutrition, or coming up with a Reinvented Toilet, this book neatly lays the problems facing the world currently and asks an important question: “How do we fix it?” Lomberg starts with stating that we can’t fix everything at once, so we need to prioritize. Interestingly enough, most of the researchers in the Copenhagen Consensus felt that some climate change takes like carbon tax were rated substantially lower than things like fighting malnutrition and fighting poverty. I think we spend to much time, especially climate activists, pondering ways to fight climate change, but it seems the climate activists rarely take actions to fight it. Instead, they patronize and demean anyone skeptical of the radical fight of climate change, when obviously hunger and poverty are a bigger problem. Research also shows that when poverty is decreased, people start to think of how their actions are affecting the climate.
Anyway, this little book is great at laying out the foundation to actually taking steps to make the world a better place, and how we can fight things like climate change, malnutrition, lack of education, overpopulation, etc. Highly recommend it.
5/5
Anyway, this little book is great at laying out the foundation to actually taking steps to make the world a better place, and how we can fight things like climate change, malnutrition, lack of education, overpopulation, etc. Highly recommend it.
5/5
May 16, 2021
Bjørn Lomborg’s ‘How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place’ provides a framework in which a collective view of the costs and benefits of a range of investments are prioritised and ranked in so far as they advance global welfare. This decade has seen remarkable progress against humanity’s great challenges, however, climate change has emerged as one of the most discussed problems in the public forum. Lomborg notes that whatever is done about climate change, it should also be recognised that the world has many other problems. If one is malnourished, what the climate will be like at the end of the century is not a high priority—this is the case for the 925 million people who still live in hunger. Therefore, given limited resources, public opinion should not be swayed by the apocalyptic fear generated by any threat over the other. Lomborg, along with a panel of economists including four Nobel laureates, outlines how instead of costing trillions of dollars in attempting to inefficiently cut carbon emissions, this could be used to tackle more pressing problems facing the world’s poorest people—micronutrients to hungry children, the control of malaria, and immunisation coverage.
April 26, 2022
How To Spend 75 Billion to Make The World A Better Place
We all think we know what the biggest problems are in the world, and with everybody and their aunt extremely eager to post on Twitter (with CAPS lock on, and spell check off for better effect) everything wrong with the world and how “if I were in charge” how quickly things would turn around for the better.
We know the hashtags and the catchy buzzwords, Defund the Police, Black Lives Matter, Make America Great Again, etc. But what are the problems actually plaguing most people in the world? Turns out if we look a little further than Fox and CNN, there is a lot to learn about the amount of needless suffering going on in the world that just doesn't make the 24 hour news cycle.
Author and economist Bjørn Lomborg takes a unique look at how 75 Billion dollars could be spent in pursuing worthwhile causes that not only save lives, but according to the economists Cost Benefit ratio will actually pay for itself several times over from not only an economic standpoint but from a humanitarian one as well.
An eye opening read, thought provoking, and occasionally a tad overwhelming with the countless number of charts and data presented to the reader. Nonetheless a must read for philanthropists and curious world inhabitants alike.
We all think we know what the biggest problems are in the world, and with everybody and their aunt extremely eager to post on Twitter (with CAPS lock on, and spell check off for better effect) everything wrong with the world and how “if I were in charge” how quickly things would turn around for the better.
We know the hashtags and the catchy buzzwords, Defund the Police, Black Lives Matter, Make America Great Again, etc. But what are the problems actually plaguing most people in the world? Turns out if we look a little further than Fox and CNN, there is a lot to learn about the amount of needless suffering going on in the world that just doesn't make the 24 hour news cycle.
Author and economist Bjørn Lomborg takes a unique look at how 75 Billion dollars could be spent in pursuing worthwhile causes that not only save lives, but according to the economists Cost Benefit ratio will actually pay for itself several times over from not only an economic standpoint but from a humanitarian one as well.
An eye opening read, thought provoking, and occasionally a tad overwhelming with the countless number of charts and data presented to the reader. Nonetheless a must read for philanthropists and curious world inhabitants alike.
November 24, 2022
This is an excellent book and makes me cringe when I encounter misanthropic fear-mongering about how doomed we all are. We could do so much with so little.
My only grievance is I wish the methodology was explained more. I am sure it is outlined in the appendix, but the core book should make it clearer. I understand that a monetary value is attached to the year disparity between life expectancy and age of death due to event (which is genius) but I wish there was more information about how they arrived at these monetary values. Why is it $1000 to $5000? Is it GDP per capita? I am not too sure, I hope I didn’t miss something.
I also think putting everything in terms of $1 provides $x amount of value is not persuasive and memorable. lives saved, or years added, or IQ gained etc are much superior and are mentioned now and then, particularly in the nutrition section, but when an idea is just written in monetary terms, it’s difficult to appreciate its potential impact. Then again, perhaps this is the point, as details bias us towards more sympathetic causes and interfere with what’s economically efficient.
My only grievance is I wish the methodology was explained more. I am sure it is outlined in the appendix, but the core book should make it clearer. I understand that a monetary value is attached to the year disparity between life expectancy and age of death due to event (which is genius) but I wish there was more information about how they arrived at these monetary values. Why is it $1000 to $5000? Is it GDP per capita? I am not too sure, I hope I didn’t miss something.
I also think putting everything in terms of $1 provides $x amount of value is not persuasive and memorable. lives saved, or years added, or IQ gained etc are much superior and are mentioned now and then, particularly in the nutrition section, but when an idea is just written in monetary terms, it’s difficult to appreciate its potential impact. Then again, perhaps this is the point, as details bias us towards more sympathetic causes and interfere with what’s economically efficient.
June 9, 2021
I liked the idea of objectifying the problem of prioritising the biggest challenges in the world but the way the author translated the results of the Copenhagen Consensus project ( which is basis of this book) felt very superficial und inanimated.Instead of a repetetiv listing of simple slogans like " Expanding tuberculosis treatment " and "Conflict prevention is better than war" i would have wished fora approuch that is more based in the real world.Why are there no reality based examples?
Why no concretly calculation of for exapmle 100€ spend ?
Who gets how much many in the solution presented ?
In the end the book left me with more questions open then at the beginning and also made me question the methodology of big think tanks instead of understanding them.
Why no concretly calculation of for exapmle 100€ spend ?
Who gets how much many in the solution presented ?
In the end the book left me with more questions open then at the beginning and also made me question the methodology of big think tanks instead of understanding them.
February 26, 2023
What's it about?
Bjorn Lomborg and the Copenhagen Consensus list and rank causes that are worth spending money on and give the best return on investment
Impressions
Many ideas sound good, but this book is a not so great summary of what the copenhagen consensus seems to have achieved. Its not detailed enough to be fully convincing
How I Discovered It
I really liked "False Alarm" by Bjorn Lomborg and was looking forward to reading this for more focus on all non-climate related issues that are worth caring about
Who Should Read It?
Anyone interested in effective altruism and which causes do the most good in the world
How the Book Changed Me
introduced me to multiple causes that i didnt have on my radar - but very surface level.
Favorite Quotes
Chapters are structured by causes and ranked in the end:
Education
"Three strategies that seem to offer the best evidence of success to date: nutrition supplements, offering information on returns to schooling, and conditional cash transfers for school attendance. All have been shown to succeed with benefits that exceed the costs."
Lomborg, Bjørn. How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place (p. 16). Copenhagen Consensus Center. Kindle Edition.
Armed Conflict
"So how can we stop conflicts before they occur? Dunne pinpoints early warning mechanisms, peacekeeping operations, economic sanctions, and aid as the tools that have proved effective."
Lomborg, Bjørn. How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place (p. 19). Copenhagen Consensus Center. Kindle Edition.
Climate Change
see notes in my False Alarm Review, which are much better
Biodiversity
too vague
Natural Disasters
"propose investments in four risk-reduction measures. The first three proposals are designed to better protect against damage and loss of life from earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes, and the final one is intended to more generally increase the resilience of communities."
Lomborg, Bjørn. How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place (p. 29). Copenhagen Consensus Center. Kindle Edition.
Population Growth
inconclusive
Water & Sanitation
"They found that development agencies overemphasize safe-water projects and underinvest in sanitation."
Lomborg, Bjørn. How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place (p. 34). Copenhagen Consensus Center. Kindle Edition.
Infectious Diseases
Most important is malaria treatment, second is tuberculosis, third is expanding case management of acutely ill children, fourth is deworming
Chronic Diseases
"according to a recent review of donor health funding, chronic disease receives the smallest amount of donor assistance of all health conditions'
Lomborg, Bjørn. How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place (p. 40). Copenhagen Consensus Center. Kindle Edition.
Hunger & Malnutrition
"A team of Nobel Laureate economists found that micronutrient interventions—fortification and supplements designed to increase nutrient intake—were the most effective investment that could be made, with massive benefits for a tiny price tag."
Lomborg, Bjørn. How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place (p. 44). Copenhagen Consensus Center. Kindle Edition.
Corruption and Trade Barriers
not so compelling/interesting
Bjorn Lomborg and the Copenhagen Consensus list and rank causes that are worth spending money on and give the best return on investment
Impressions
Many ideas sound good, but this book is a not so great summary of what the copenhagen consensus seems to have achieved. Its not detailed enough to be fully convincing
How I Discovered It
I really liked "False Alarm" by Bjorn Lomborg and was looking forward to reading this for more focus on all non-climate related issues that are worth caring about
Who Should Read It?
Anyone interested in effective altruism and which causes do the most good in the world
How the Book Changed Me
introduced me to multiple causes that i didnt have on my radar - but very surface level.
Favorite Quotes
Chapters are structured by causes and ranked in the end:
Education
"Three strategies that seem to offer the best evidence of success to date: nutrition supplements, offering information on returns to schooling, and conditional cash transfers for school attendance. All have been shown to succeed with benefits that exceed the costs."
Lomborg, Bjørn. How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place (p. 16). Copenhagen Consensus Center. Kindle Edition.
Armed Conflict
"So how can we stop conflicts before they occur? Dunne pinpoints early warning mechanisms, peacekeeping operations, economic sanctions, and aid as the tools that have proved effective."
Lomborg, Bjørn. How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place (p. 19). Copenhagen Consensus Center. Kindle Edition.
Climate Change
see notes in my False Alarm Review, which are much better
Biodiversity
too vague
Natural Disasters
"propose investments in four risk-reduction measures. The first three proposals are designed to better protect against damage and loss of life from earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes, and the final one is intended to more generally increase the resilience of communities."
Lomborg, Bjørn. How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place (p. 29). Copenhagen Consensus Center. Kindle Edition.
Population Growth
inconclusive
Water & Sanitation
"They found that development agencies overemphasize safe-water projects and underinvest in sanitation."
Lomborg, Bjørn. How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place (p. 34). Copenhagen Consensus Center. Kindle Edition.
Infectious Diseases
Most important is malaria treatment, second is tuberculosis, third is expanding case management of acutely ill children, fourth is deworming
Chronic Diseases
"according to a recent review of donor health funding, chronic disease receives the smallest amount of donor assistance of all health conditions'
Lomborg, Bjørn. How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place (p. 40). Copenhagen Consensus Center. Kindle Edition.
Hunger & Malnutrition
"A team of Nobel Laureate economists found that micronutrient interventions—fortification and supplements designed to increase nutrient intake—were the most effective investment that could be made, with massive benefits for a tiny price tag."
Lomborg, Bjørn. How to Spend $75 Billion to Make the World a Better Place (p. 44). Copenhagen Consensus Center. Kindle Edition.
Corruption and Trade Barriers
not so compelling/interesting
October 13, 2020
The Copenhagen Consensus project is extremely interesting due to the approach they take in detailing how we can start improving people's lives, countries economies, and the planets climate. This book simply collates this information and dumps it into a book. It would have benefited from having some context, backstory, or narrative instead of the monotonous read that must be endured to get the facts.
January 16, 2021
A solid, brief introduction to the greatest word's problems. I really like approach chosen by the author, the cost/benefit analysis is probably the best idea to start dealing with those problems. It's definitely good starting book to set your mindset to calm and pragmatic approach, so you won't let the panic carry you away.
May 18, 2022
A bit too dry and outdated, but there are some interesting points that can still be learnt from this book. As it is just a synthesis of the research that preceded it, it is normal that there are some areas I would like to have seen elaborated, but I understand that it was not the idea to create a 500-page book.
October 31, 2022
World’s best work! This is actually real data and ideas to make the world better. I feel so tired of all the people saying that we should do something about the world, but no one takes real action. Data and numbers are the answers, not good intentions. Remember the road to hell is paved by good intentions
December 6, 2020
Not particularly compelling, but would recommend to anyone who devotes any amount of their income to philanthropy. Having those decisions being informed by a cost/benefit analysis seems tremendous - this book gives a strong example of that approach.
January 14, 2022
Do something . . . start where you are . . . change the world - this book provides clear data and motivation to make the world a better place. It surprised me how little $ is needed to make a huge difference in the lives of millions of children and adults.
May 3, 2024
This book just throws huge number of facts on your face and you're expected to make a conclusion.
It feel so repetitive all the time like "The experts studies" is at the start of every paragraph.
It feel so repetitive all the time like "The experts studies" is at the start of every paragraph.
Currently reading
October 9, 2021tytfyufyguy
October 27, 2021
4/5
Amazing book to understand the current problems of the world and How to tackle them by spending money wisely on the policies.
Amazing book to understand the current problems of the world and How to tackle them by spending money wisely on the policies.
November 14, 2021
Instead of Cop26, 27, 28, blá-blá-blá, just get this book pick one problem from the list and get on with it. Pledges us a political statement, we need action not pledges.
January 31, 2022
A must read book for all politicians. I would like to read an updated version since 2012.
July 13, 2022
Basically the economists way of saying, “Go to school kids.” 3 stars.
December 1, 2022
Very interesting and thorough, I was expecting a more fluid read to be honest and this was closer to a scientific paper.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews