Part 5: The world’s biggest problems and why they’re not what first comes to mind

Part 5: The world’s biggest problems and why they’re not what first comes to mind

Author: Benjamin Todd & the 80,000 Hours team September 4, 2023 Duration: 30:12

Answer: Most people in rich countries who aim to do good work on health, poverty, and education in their home country. But health in poor countries is a bigger, more solvable problem, and only receives 4% of charitable donations. And we argue there are even bigger and more neglected issues, such as those involving existential risks and smarter-than-human AI.

Here we explain what we’ve learnt about the world’s most urgent problems.


If you've ever felt that nagging tension between wanting a job that pays the bills, feels personally meaningful, and actually makes a positive dent in the world's problems, this audio series is for you. The 80,000 Hours Career Guide-Find a fulfilling career that does good is a direct, thoughtful conversation hosted by Benjamin Todd & the 80,000 Hours team, adapted from their comprehensive 2023 research. It moves beyond vague inspirational talk to tackle the concrete, often counterintuitive questions that really shape a working life. You'll hear detailed explorations on what the evidence says about finding a dream job, the practical ways to build valuable career connections, and how to honestly weigh up which paths might help others the most. The structure is clear: eleven core chapters walk you through the major decision points, followed by nine deep-dive appendices that cover specific dilemmas, like whether it's ever justifiable to work in a harmful industry for a greater good, or what the collected research says about simply being more effective in any role you choose. This isn't about quick fixes or generic lists; it's a methodical, evidence-backed guide for rethinking how you use your skills and time. The tone is grounded and conversational, making the team's substantial research feel accessible and immediately useful. Tune into this podcast for a structured, challenging, and ultimately hopeful framework to navigate your own career choices with more clarity and purpose.
Author: Language: en-nz Episodes: 22

[NEW EDITION AVAILABLE ON AUDIBLE] The 80,000 Hours Career Guide
Podcast Episodes
Appendix A: The meaning of making a difference [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:26
Lots of people say they want to “make a difference,” “do good,” “have a social impact,” or “make the world a better place” — but they rarely say what they mean by those terms.By getting clearer about your definition, you…
Appendix C: Four biases to avoid in career decisions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:21
Over the last couple of decades, a large and growing body of research has emerged which shows that our decisions are far from rational. We did a survey of this research to find out what it means for your career decisions…
Appendix H: Career review summaries [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:35
As part of our research, we’ve evaluated different careers: how likely people are to succeed in them, how much good they could do in them, and how to enter them.