Jordan Peterson - Bjørn Lomborg

1) Bjørn Lomborg, who is the founder and head of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, explains how setting numerous goals and promises without any realistic plans of action can be comical and foolish. Lomborg argues that every country signs up for making all these promises, but midway through the timeline, they are not even close to fulfilling them. For instance, fighting corruption is essential but very complicated to accomplish. Corruption is an issue that manifests itselfat every level of society and requires systems that may become corrupt.

2) Bjørn discusses how the focus should be on helping the world's poorest people, who live in low and low-middle income countries. By investing in cost-effective projects in these countries, we can help the most people at a low cost. Lomborg argues that once you have the economic ability to contemplate these types of projects, you also have the moral requirement to tackle these problems intelligently and prioritize them in a way that addresses the problems of the people who most need help. Lomborg estimates that 35 billion dollars per year in funding would cover the cost of the 12 solutions they proposed and this funding could come from rich people or development agencies. If this amount of funding were put into the 12 solutions over the decade, it could save 4.2 million lives each year and would generate economic benefits worth 1.1 trillion dollars.

3) Bjørn addresses some common criticisms of the idea of using funds to efficiently improve the lives of the poor across the world. One criticism states that the world is a zero-sum game, meaning that if some people are rich, then others must be poor. However, the data from the last 200 years shows that almost everyone used to live in extreme poverty, but today, only 10% live below the poverty line. Therefore, there is enough of a surplus in productivity to improve the lives of the poor, and the fear that elevating the poor would take up all the world's resources is unfounded. While the planet faces problems, such as climate change, a smarter, more efficient use of resources can allow the planet to handle a larger population with higher living standards, and this will also reduce pollution.

4) Bjørn argues that the view of Malthusian scarcity, which suggests that natural populations will expand to over-consume available resources before collapsing, is not a reliable model for humanity. Lomborg believes that human beings are capable of using innovation and technology to effectively utilize scarce resources and create better ways of living. He also points out that ameliorating absolute poverty is the most effective way to address environmental concerns, as it leads to a better quality of life and provides incentives for further innovation.

5) Lomborg believes that by following World Health Organization recommendations for maternal and newborn health which include basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (BEEMONC) coupled with family planning could save large amounts of mothers and children.

‍

‍

6) Bjørn talks about the basic necessities that developing countries need to save lives, such as hospitals with basic equipment like hand pumps and masks to help babies who do not start breathing on their own. He explains that the biggest hurdle to setting up basic infrastructure in developing countries is that it is not a top priority for governments, as it doesn't give them a platform to take credit for prevention. Despite the estimated cost of $4.9 billion per year, the benefits are mind-blowing, with 1.2 million children's lives being saved and 161,000 women surviving childbirth each year. He argues that by investing one dollar, we could develop basic infrastructure to save human lives.

7) Bjørn discusses a few solutions to improve maternal and infant health, which includes providing respiratory technology and ensuring proper care for newborns. Another solution he suggests is improving agriculture to help combat hunger. Lomborg explains that the way to make agriculture better is to have a few percent of the population work on farms, while the rest of society is able to engage in more productive endeavors. Lomborg addresses romantic objections to industrialization and urbanization by stating that while it's wonderful that people can go back to living their lives as farmers, most people would prefer to have others produce their food. Specialization is key to improving agriculture and producing more food.

8) Bjørn discusses how improving seeds can be a cost-effective method of increasing agricultural output. Normal Borlaug's "Green Revolution" of the 1960s and 70s led to the production of crops such as wheat and rice, which provided food to millions of people around the world. Lomborg suggests that if we could focus on improving the seeds of other crops that people typically consume, such as yams or sorghum, we could continue to provide this kind of aid to a larger part of the population.

9) Bjorn discusses the benefits of investing in agricultural research for developing better seed varieties, which leads to increased food production and lower prices for consumers. This investment would primarily be for international research institutions and national research organizations at an estimated cost of $5.5 billion a year. The benefits would include $184 billion for producers, farmers, and consumers while saving 133 billion people from hunger. Despite its potential benefits, the issue of agricultural research has received little attention, likely due toignorance and a marketing problem. By making this issue a priority and marketing it as an adventure towards eliminating poverty, it would attract young people's interest and investment, giving them a larger-scale social significance.

10) Bjørn discusses some effective ways of feeding the most vulnerable people in the world. He suggests that instead of handing outfood, we should put more focus on the first thousand days in a baby's life, including the nine months of pregnancy and the first two years after birth. The World Health Organization recommends iron and folic acid pills for pregnant women, but Lomborg suggests replacing this pill with another pill that has many more vitamins to cost less and benefit more. He also suggests increasing moms' access to calcium and educating them on how to feed their children well, reducing stunting rates and promoting development for a better future.

‍

‍

11) Lomborg discusses the connection between cognitive power and well-being, stating that higher cognitive ability leads to more success and the ability to process more units of information per unit of time. He estimates that educating women on how to feed their children properly will cost approximately $1.4 billion but generate benefits of about $35 billion a year. He suggests that educating women is a more efficient and inexpensive solution compared to handing out food which is prone to corruption and loss, leading to less effective outcomes.

12) Bjørn discusses the problem of corruption reduction and a potential solution through e-procurement. By implementing an electronic procurement system that posts bids online, it becomes harder to be corrupt and easier to get high-quality goods at lower prices. Bangladesh and Ukraine have successfully implemented this system, and on average, it reduces prices by 6.75%, leading to a 3% improvement in budgets overall. The estimated cost for implementing this system in 30 countries is 72 million dollars per year, and the benefits would be around 10 billion dollars. Thus, it is an inexpensive yet effective solution to combat corruption in procurement.

13) Bjorn discusses two ways to improve education in poor countries. The first way is to use behavioral methods to teach children to read in a structured and simple manner. Children could potentially learn to read in just 3 months, and it could lead to spontaneous enjoyment from reading. By teaching teachers to use these methods, it could create a more positive classroom environment and help with teacher autonomy. The second method is to teach children based on their level, by splitting them into smaller groups or through technology. By doing so, children will learn at the right level, which could make the learning process enjoyable, and lead to dopamine kicks associated with positive emotions.

14) Bjørn discusses the benefits of introducing technology to classrooms to aid learning in developing countries. He arguesthat computers, when used correctly, are unmatched at finding the learning zone closest to the student's capabilities. These tools often outperform traditionalmethods, and can provide three years of learning per year. According to Lomborg, basic automation tasks can be achieved in weeks rather than months oryears, and studies suggest that intervening at an early age can drastically impact later earning potential. Combining all aspects of the interventionsLomborg mentioned, including teachers and solar panels, can provide 65% overall benefit. This would, in turn, yield a lifetime of 4% higher productivity acrossaffected individuals. Lomborg estimates that the lifetime gains would be equal to 800-2000 dollars per student, with a cumulative social-economic impact of around 600 billion dollars per year.

15) Bjorn discusses the ways to decrease the transmission of malaria. He explains that mosquito nets are a very cheap and effective way to dramatically reduce transmission, as the Nets provide a physical barrier to prevent mosquito bites, and when the mosquito sits on the net, it often dies from the pesticide.He estimates that increasing the distribution of these Nets by 10 would reduce malaria by half over the decade, saving about 200,000 lives every year and reducing healthcare and productivity costs by about 10 billion dollars. The total cost of increased net distribution would be about 1.1 billion dollars, with a 48-dollar return for every dollar spent. The main impediment to this solution is that it requires two different pots of money, but he suggests crowdfunding projects as analternative to taxation.

‍

‍

16) Lomborg suggests that simple and cheap solutions such as prescribing diuretics and hypertension medication or putting a tax on tobacco are viable ways to prevent and improve the quality of life of some individuals. Lomborg argues that it is worthwhile to consider these solutions as they have a significant benefit-cost ratio, saving hundreds of thousands of lives each year.

17) Bjørn discusses the issue of insecure land tenure, particularly in the developing world. This insecurity leads to difficulties in obtaining loans and making long-term investments in the land, as well as anxiety and demoralization in those who live there. Lomborg proposes setting up a system to document land ownership through surveys and conflict resolution, which would cost $2.2 billion dollars a year. However, the benefits to this would be significant, including a 15% increase in agricultural productivity and a boost in value for homes and apartments. Lomborg argues that this approach is based on evidence and has no stake in any particular outcome, making it a sound investment for global development.

18) Bjørn discusses a paper that he and his team wrote, which looks at the cost and benefits of free trade. The paper assumes that trade increases by 5%, not delving into how it could be achieved. Overall, the research shows that the world would be about $11 trillion better off over the next 50 years, but there is a cost of a trillion dollars, which is the cost of all the people who work in import-exposed industries. Overall, the benefits outweigh the costs, but Lomborg acknowledges that the poorest strata in rich countries suffer the most from this economic policy. He believes that the solution is to provide access to retraining and education, so they can find other work where they won't be negatively affected by increased trade.

19) Bjorn discusses the importance of addressing psychological issues when dealing with job transitions due to displacement, emphasizing the need to retool the way people handle these situations. He suggests that people should see an expanding horizon of opportunity rather than focusing on their one source of income. He also proposes skilled migration as a potential solution to poverty, as it could increase productivity and improve the economic status of people from low-income countries.

20) Bjørn discusses the idea of skilled migration to address poverty. Lomborg explains that the migration of skilled workers can benefit both the rich and poor countries. He suggests that countries with a shortage of doctors and engineers can embrace and prioritize skilled migration since it also generates a significant investment in the sending country. Lomborg estimates that skilled migration will cost approximately $2.8 billion, but it will provide a return of $50 billion. He emphasizes that skilled migration can be a more intelligent and politically feasible approach towards immigration.

‍

‍

21) Bjørn discusses tuberculosis (TB) which affects marginalized and poor communities. Although it is no longer a threat in many parts of the world, TB still is the leading infectious disease killer, with 1.4-1.5 million deaths annually. The big problem with TB is that 10-11 million people get it every year but only 6 million are diagnosed, and the rest become an untreated reservoir. Screening for TB is crucial, particularly for marginalized people in slum cities, prisons, or mining communities, who are most at risk. Governments offer treatment for free but the six-month-long treatment compliance is a major issue. Lomborg proposes incentivizing people to complete their medication by using an app and having weekly check-ins or offering them juice boxes. He believes that these small incentives can help create a habit of taking medication and foster compliance, which is vital inbattling TB.

22) Lomborg discusses the benefits of investing $35 billion in tuberculosis research and eradication. By doing so, it is estimated that 4.2 million people's lives could be saved every year across 12 countries, and the world could benefit from economic benefits worth $1.1 trillion. Lomborg stresses that this is an incredibly impactful solution at a very low cost.

23) Bjørn discusses his upcoming book "Best Things First" and the idea of setting up a reward program for people who make significant contributions in areas such as climate change, health, education,and poverty. He argues that when people are provided with information, there is incremental movement towards appreciating it. Lomborg advocates for solutions that are effective and efficient, such as spending money on malaria, which can save 200,000 people every year, instead of spending it on less effective causes.

24) Bjørn discusses the importance of prioritizing the most effective solutions to the world's problems instead of just agreeing with every proposed solution. He suggests that if governments focus on the 12 proposals presented in his book, "Best Things First," which will cost around $35 billion a year, they can make a significant positive impact. Lomborg emphasizes that the cost is low, and the benefits are enormous. By doing so, governments can keep their promises to their people and make an impact that they have failed to achieve so far. The doable dozen is gaining interest in newspapers worldwide, especially in the poorest half of the world.

‍

‍

25) Bjorn addresses the ethical issues of denying developing countries the right to industrialize and improve their living standards. He argues that the idea of prioritizing environmental concerns over human progress is morally reprehensible, and wealthy countries should help developing ones to become richer and alleviate poverty instead. He points out that reducing poverty will lead to environmental consciousness, as people begin to care about the quality of their environment and the future of their children. He adds that climate change is a problem, but it is not the apocalyptic end of the world; rather, it is one of many problems that need tobe addressed, and one of the ways to alleviate it is by reducing poverty.