Where can we do the most good?

The Copenhagen Consensus Conference proposes the Top Ten Solutions to the World's Biggest Problems

Assume $75 billion to spend over four years.

1. Supply the micronutrients,  the highest priority
vitamin A and zinc to 80 percent of the 140 million children who lack them in developing countries is ranked as the highest priority by the expert panel at the Copenhagen Consensus 2008 Conference. The cost is $60 million per year, yielding benefits in health and cognitive development of over $1 billion.

2. Widen free trade
Success at Doha trade negotiations could boost global income by $3 trillion per year, of which $2.5 trillion would go to the developing countries...."Trade reform is not just for the long run, it would make people in developing countries better off right now. There are large benefits in the short run and the long run benefits are enormous."

3. Fortify foods with iron and iodized salt
Two billion people do not have enough iron in their diets which results in energy sapping anemia and cognitive deficits in children and adults. Lack of iodine stunts both physical and intellectual growth. More than 30 percent of developing country households do not consume iodized salt. Correcting these mirconutrient deficits would cost $286 million per year

4. Expanded immunization coverage of children
5. Biofortification (agricultural improvements through research and development)
6. Deworming and other nutrition programs at school
7. Lowering the price of schooling
8. Increasing girls' schooling
9. Community-based nutrition promotion
10. Support for women's reproductive roles.

Results of the ranking of the 30 proposed challenges to eight of the world's most distinguished economists invited to rank are here.   

Mitigation measures for global warming ranked last based on its poor benefit/cost ratio.