Publications

While our publications are all listed here, they are easier to browse on our research page.

Global Health and Development Rethink Priorities Global Health and Development Rethink Priorities

Impact of mosquito nets on fisheries

In April 2024, GiveWell commissioned Rethink Priorities to conduct research on mosquito nets. The aim was to briefly evaluate whether some nets that are distributed but not used could be causing harm if they are being used for fishing. This rapid research focused on whether greater demand for existing fish stocks could lead to depletion and disrupt long-term sustainability and food security, which we refer to as “overfishing”.

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Research in Brief: The long-term income effects of childhood malaria cases

This research updated GiveWell’s previous literature review on the long-term income effects of childhood malaria to determine whether the assumption that income in adulthood decreases by 1% per childhood malaria case should be adjusted and whether any further evidence should be considered.

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Better weather forecasting: Agricultural and non-agricultural benefits in low- and lower-middle-income countries

This report is a “shallow” investigation commissioned by Open Philanthropy. This primary focus of the report is to assess weather forecasting as a potential agricultural intervention in low- and lower-middle income countries and to examine the cost-effectiveness of different interventions.

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Global Health and Development, Climate Greer Gosnell Global Health and Development, Climate Greer Gosnell

The REDD+ framework for reducing deforestation and mitigating climate change: overview, evaluation, and cost-effectiveness

The first of a two-part series on anti-deforestation initiatives, this report examines the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the REDD+ framework for reducing forest loss and degradation and for abating CO2 emissions that contribute to climate change.

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How effective are prizes at spurring innovation?

This report is a “shallow” investigation and was commissioned by Open Philanthropy and produced by Rethink Priorities. Open Philanthropy does not necessarily endorse our conclusions. The primary focus of the report is a literature review of the effectiveness of prizes in spurring innovation and what design features of prizes are most effective in doing so. We also spoke to one expert. We hope this report galvanizes a productive conversation about the effectiveness of prizes within the effective altruism community. We are open to revising our views as more information is uncovered.

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