Stefan Schubert
@stefanschubert.bsky.social
Effective Altruism and the Human Mind (with Lucius Caviola) is available for free at: https://academic.oup.com/book/56384
For physical and audiobook versions, see: https://stefanschubert.substack.com/p/physical-and-audiobook-versions-of
For physical and audiobook versions, see: https://stefanschubert.substack.com/p/physical-and-audiobook-versions-of
Pinned
Our book on the psychology of effective altruism is now out.
The digital version is available for free: academic.oup.com/book/56384?l...
There's also an audiobook.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
And you can save 30% on a physical copy if you use the code AUFLY30. global.oup.com/academic
The digital version is available for free: academic.oup.com/book/56384?l...
There's also an audiobook.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...
And you can save 30% on a physical copy if you use the code AUFLY30. global.oup.com/academic
"It has gone largely unnoticed that time spent on social media peaked in 2022 and has since gone into steady decline."
By @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/a072...
By @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/a072...
October 3, 2025 at 12:04 PM
"It has gone largely unnoticed that time spent on social media peaked in 2022 and has since gone into steady decline."
By @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/a072...
By @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/a072...
Reposted by Stefan Schubert
Zurich is the latest city to make parking more expensive for oversized cars like SUVs.
Cities including Paris and Montreal have taken similar steps to counteract car bloat.
Cities including Paris and Montreal have taken similar steps to counteract car bloat.
Zürich will Parkgebühren erhöhen – SUV-Fahrer müssten deutlich mehr bezahlen
Zürich plant höhere Parkgebühren für schwere Autos in der Blauen Zone. Elektrofahrzeuge profitieren von vergünstigten Tarifen. Vorschlag geht an den Gemeinderat
www.watson.ch
October 1, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Zurich is the latest city to make parking more expensive for oversized cars like SUVs.
Cities including Paris and Montreal have taken similar steps to counteract car bloat.
Cities including Paris and Montreal have taken similar steps to counteract car bloat.
Reposted by Stefan Schubert
Most graphs of the fertility rate depict the 'period fertility rate', which is based on a single year's data and doesn't necessarily reflect how many children women actually have across their lifetimes.
I've used data from the Human Fertility Database to show the cumulative number instead:
I've used data from the Human Fertility Database to show the cumulative number instead:
October 1, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Most graphs of the fertility rate depict the 'period fertility rate', which is based on a single year's data and doesn't necessarily reflect how many children women actually have across their lifetimes.
I've used data from the Human Fertility Database to show the cumulative number instead:
I've used data from the Human Fertility Database to show the cumulative number instead:
Reposted by Stefan Schubert
Twitter is a particularly stark example but in general the gap between the public and elites (left+right) on ID cards is huge
September 26, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Twitter is a particularly stark example but in general the gap between the public and elites (left+right) on ID cards is huge
I much enjoyed David's new book.
The first part of the book describes Singer's life and how the drowning child argument inspired the founding of effective altruism.
The second part discusses objections to EA.
The first part of the book describes Singer's life and how the drowning child argument inspired the founding of effective altruism.
The second part discusses objections to EA.
Publication day today! This is the story of @petersinger.info ’s famous thought experiment, and its influence. @princetonupress.bsky.social
A fascinating account of Peter Singer’s controversial “drowning child” thought experiment—and how it changed the way people think about charitable giving.
Death in a Shallow Pond by @davidedmonds100.bsky.social is now available. Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
#Philosophy
Death in a Shallow Pond by @davidedmonds100.bsky.social is now available. Learn more: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
#Philosophy
September 26, 2025 at 10:00 AM
I much enjoyed David's new book.
The first part of the book describes Singer's life and how the drowning child argument inspired the founding of effective altruism.
The second part discusses objections to EA.
The first part of the book describes Singer's life and how the drowning child argument inspired the founding of effective altruism.
The second part discusses objections to EA.
"French pensioners now have higher incomes than working-age adults" - extraordinary
By @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/d419...
By @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/d419...
September 13, 2025 at 10:31 AM
"French pensioners now have higher incomes than working-age adults" - extraordinary
By @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/d419...
By @jburnmurdoch.ft.com
www.ft.com/content/d419...
Financial Times analysis: US jobs at a high risk from generative AI have not been more likely to shed young workers since ChatGPT launched
www.ft.com/content/99b6...
www.ft.com/content/99b6...
July 24, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Financial Times analysis: US jobs at a high risk from generative AI have not been more likely to shed young workers since ChatGPT launched
www.ft.com/content/99b6...
www.ft.com/content/99b6...
Study finds that Americans' policy views don't relate to basic economic literacy, and that such literacy doesn't make people think like economists.
Also if Democrats and Republicans had had perfect basic economic literacy, their policy views would diverge.
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/KRKRA...
Also if Democrats and Republicans had had perfect basic economic literacy, their policy views would diverge.
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/KRKRA...
July 10, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Study finds that Americans' policy views don't relate to basic economic literacy, and that such literacy doesn't make people think like economists.
Also if Democrats and Republicans had had perfect basic economic literacy, their policy views would diverge.
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/KRKRA...
Also if Democrats and Republicans had had perfect basic economic literacy, their policy views would diverge.
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/KRKRA...
Reposted by Stefan Schubert
Ask me anything!
I'll be doing an AMA with EA forum today.
You can ask me about anything, whether it's about topics I write about (life expectancy, fertility, mortality, global health, data, etc.), recommendations, writing or podcasting, or anything else.
Feel free to reply with questions below.
I'll be doing an AMA with EA forum today.
You can ask me about anything, whether it's about topics I write about (life expectancy, fertility, mortality, global health, data, etc.), recommendations, writing or podcasting, or anything else.
Feel free to reply with questions below.
July 8, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Ask me anything!
I'll be doing an AMA with EA forum today.
You can ask me about anything, whether it's about topics I write about (life expectancy, fertility, mortality, global health, data, etc.), recommendations, writing or podcasting, or anything else.
Feel free to reply with questions below.
I'll be doing an AMA with EA forum today.
You can ask me about anything, whether it's about topics I write about (life expectancy, fertility, mortality, global health, data, etc.), recommendations, writing or podcasting, or anything else.
Feel free to reply with questions below.
Reposted by Stefan Schubert
❓Why do the Nordics & Dutch speak English so much better than the Germans, Italians & French?
➡️ New Working Paper:
Out-of-School Learning: Subtitling vs. Dubbing and the Acquisition of Foreign-Language Skills
w/ F. Baumeister & E. Hanushek
www.nber.org/papers/w33984
A 🧵 1/12
➡️ New Working Paper:
Out-of-School Learning: Subtitling vs. Dubbing and the Acquisition of Foreign-Language Skills
w/ F. Baumeister & E. Hanushek
www.nber.org/papers/w33984
A 🧵 1/12
July 7, 2025 at 6:33 AM
❓Why do the Nordics & Dutch speak English so much better than the Germans, Italians & French?
➡️ New Working Paper:
Out-of-School Learning: Subtitling vs. Dubbing and the Acquisition of Foreign-Language Skills
w/ F. Baumeister & E. Hanushek
www.nber.org/papers/w33984
A 🧵 1/12
➡️ New Working Paper:
Out-of-School Learning: Subtitling vs. Dubbing and the Acquisition of Foreign-Language Skills
w/ F. Baumeister & E. Hanushek
www.nber.org/papers/w33984
A 🧵 1/12
Guess the nationality of the unnamed author of this
@economist.com article on "the Big Three" 🙃
@economist.com article on "the Big Three" 🙃
July 3, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Guess the nationality of the unnamed author of this
@economist.com article on "the Big Three" 🙃
@economist.com article on "the Big Three" 🙃
In the 18th century, there was a real chance of death at any point in life, and there wasn't a big peak in old age.
It wasn't just higher infant mortality - the whole distribution was completely different.
inquisitivebird.xyz/p/the-rise-o...
It wasn't just higher infant mortality - the whole distribution was completely different.
inquisitivebird.xyz/p/the-rise-o...
July 2, 2025 at 8:08 PM
In the 18th century, there was a real chance of death at any point in life, and there wasn't a big peak in old age.
It wasn't just higher infant mortality - the whole distribution was completely different.
inquisitivebird.xyz/p/the-rise-o...
It wasn't just higher infant mortality - the whole distribution was completely different.
inquisitivebird.xyz/p/the-rise-o...
Be alert to uses of "by default" or "business-as-usual" in the context of projections of future trends.
While they literally mean "in the absence of new policy", they often carry the association that they're likely (cf "usual").
But in fact, they're often highly unlikely.
->
While they literally mean "in the absence of new policy", they often carry the association that they're likely (cf "usual").
But in fact, they're often highly unlikely.
->
July 2, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Be alert to uses of "by default" or "business-as-usual" in the context of projections of future trends.
While they literally mean "in the absence of new policy", they often carry the association that they're likely (cf "usual").
But in fact, they're often highly unlikely.
->
While they literally mean "in the absence of new policy", they often carry the association that they're likely (cf "usual").
But in fact, they're often highly unlikely.
->
I agree with this. Too often, people get away with this because of misguided norms of charity.
And yes, we should focus more on authors (relative to the audience) than we do today when trying to improve discourse norms.
www.lesswrong.com/posts/Zmfxgv...
And yes, we should focus more on authors (relative to the audience) than we do today when trying to improve discourse norms.
www.lesswrong.com/posts/Zmfxgv...
July 1, 2025 at 8:21 PM
I agree with this. Too often, people get away with this because of misguided norms of charity.
And yes, we should focus more on authors (relative to the audience) than we do today when trying to improve discourse norms.
www.lesswrong.com/posts/Zmfxgv...
And yes, we should focus more on authors (relative to the audience) than we do today when trying to improve discourse norms.
www.lesswrong.com/posts/Zmfxgv...
In northern Europe, life satisfaction increases with age, whereas in southern Europe, it decreases.
www.nber.org/papers/w33950
www.nber.org/papers/w33950
June 30, 2025 at 7:04 AM
In northern Europe, life satisfaction increases with age, whereas in southern Europe, it decreases.
www.nber.org/papers/w33950
www.nber.org/papers/w33950
One thing outsiders often get wrong about academia is they say "Harvard published a study", "Oxford did such-and-such", etc - analogously to "Google did", etc.
In most cases, that's wrong - it's groups of researchers (often at different unis) who do things, not universities.
In most cases, that's wrong - it's groups of researchers (often at different unis) who do things, not universities.
June 28, 2025 at 4:05 PM
One thing outsiders often get wrong about academia is they say "Harvard published a study", "Oxford did such-and-such", etc - analogously to "Google did", etc.
In most cases, that's wrong - it's groups of researchers (often at different unis) who do things, not universities.
In most cases, that's wrong - it's groups of researchers (often at different unis) who do things, not universities.
Anthropic launches "initiative to support research and policy development focused on addressing AI’s economic impacts".
www.anthropic.com/news/introdu...
www.anthropic.com/news/introdu...
June 27, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Anthropic launches "initiative to support research and policy development focused on addressing AI’s economic impacts".
www.anthropic.com/news/introdu...
www.anthropic.com/news/introdu...
"36% of all Chinese undergraduate entrants picked an engineering degree. In Britain and America the proportion hovers around 5%."
Incredible numbers (assuming the definitions are consistent).
www.economist.com/china/2025/0...
Incredible numbers (assuming the definitions are consistent).
www.economist.com/china/2025/0...
June 27, 2025 at 7:56 AM
"36% of all Chinese undergraduate entrants picked an engineering degree. In Britain and America the proportion hovers around 5%."
Incredible numbers (assuming the definitions are consistent).
www.economist.com/china/2025/0...
Incredible numbers (assuming the definitions are consistent).
www.economist.com/china/2025/0...
Reposted by Stefan Schubert
Do you believe in moral progress?
In the latest episode of “Lives Well Lived”, Kasia and I speak with Josh Greene about why he believes that in the long run, the world is improving, despite recent setbacks. From fewer deaths in violent conflicts to more people living healthy, meaningful lives...
In the latest episode of “Lives Well Lived”, Kasia and I speak with Josh Greene about why he believes that in the long run, the world is improving, despite recent setbacks. From fewer deaths in violent conflicts to more people living healthy, meaningful lives...
June 25, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Do you believe in moral progress?
In the latest episode of “Lives Well Lived”, Kasia and I speak with Josh Greene about why he believes that in the long run, the world is improving, despite recent setbacks. From fewer deaths in violent conflicts to more people living healthy, meaningful lives...
In the latest episode of “Lives Well Lived”, Kasia and I speak with Josh Greene about why he believes that in the long run, the world is improving, despite recent setbacks. From fewer deaths in violent conflicts to more people living healthy, meaningful lives...
Surely that depends on what you love, and how good you are at it
June 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Surely that depends on what you love, and how good you are at it
Reposted by Stefan Schubert
New short post, you shouldn't make claims that assume the average person is really stupid andymasley.substack.com/p/my-are-you...
My "Are you presuming most people are stupid?" test
For AI criticism and everything else
andymasley.substack.com
June 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM
New short post, you shouldn't make claims that assume the average person is really stupid andymasley.substack.com/p/my-are-you...
June 24, 2025 at 11:55 AM
I don't think these kinds of outrage posts over random members of the public are especially helpful
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
June 24, 2025 at 10:36 AM
I don't think these kinds of outrage posts over random members of the public are especially helpful
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Stefan Schubert
My second @sentientism.bsky.social interview is out! Thanks to @jamiewoodhouse.bsky.social for having me back to discuss The Moral Circle - as well as for giving me this awesome mug in London 🙂
You can watch the interview below, or listen elsewhere. Hope you enjoy!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9ti...
You can watch the interview below, or listen elsewhere. Hope you enjoy!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9ti...
June 23, 2025 at 2:01 PM
My second @sentientism.bsky.social interview is out! Thanks to @jamiewoodhouse.bsky.social for having me back to discuss The Moral Circle - as well as for giving me this awesome mug in London 🙂
You can watch the interview below, or listen elsewhere. Hope you enjoy!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9ti...
You can watch the interview below, or listen elsewhere. Hope you enjoy!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9ti...
June 23, 2025 at 7:58 AM