2023 Mega-highlights Extravaganza
80,000 Hours Podcast
Influencing Policy: Have Battle-Tested Ideas, Be Trustworthy, Be Well Connected
To influence policy, it is crucial to have ideas readily accessible for decision-makers to consider during crises. Punctuated equilibrium emphasizes the need for ideas to be available for implementation when the opportunity arises. These ideas should come from a credible source that decision-makers trust and have a relationship with. Building relationships with key decision-makers, establishing credibility on the issues, and refining ideas through critique and detail are essential. Despite the low visibility of reports and white papers, they can significantly impact national legislation by reaching the right audience, such as congressional staffers. The key lies in making ideas understandable, credible, and relevant to the audience influencing policy decisions.
