Should donors give to Hurricane Harvey relief, or long-term problems in developing countries?

September 2017

Thankfully, altruistic donations to the victims of Hurricane Harvey are pouring in -- as donations frequently do after such disasters.

But are those donations really the best use of donors' money? Or could donors spend their money more effectively elsewhere, by, for instance, giving to aid programs that seek to end disease or starvation in developing countries?

Jared Celniker, who is earning his Ph.D. in psychology and social behavior, examines such altruism, and whether there is a more effective method of giving in Psychology Today.

"Instead of thinking at the margins — trying to get the most pro-social bang for your buck — many people go with their guts when making decisions to donate to charity," Celniker writes.

Read the article.