How to avoid getting lost reading Scott Alexander and his 1500+ blog posts? This unaffiliated fan website lets you sort and search through the whole codex. Enjoy!

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27 posts found
May 10, 2024
acx

Highlights From The Comments On Hanson And Health Care

47 min • 6,090 words • 184 comments • 76 likes • podcast
Scott Alexander summarizes comments on his healthcare effectiveness debate with Robin Hanson, including clarifications, study author responses, and reader perspectives on various healthcare topics. Longer summary
This post highlights comments on Scott Alexander's recent discussion with Robin Hanson about healthcare effectiveness. It includes responses from Robin Hanson clarifying his position, comments from the authors of a study on health insurance and mortality, and various reader perspectives on healthcare, medical waste, and specific medical treatments. The post touches on topics like the statistical analysis of healthcare studies, the value of preventive medicine, and the complexities of measuring healthcare outcomes. Shorter summary
Apr 30, 2024
acx

Response to Hanson On Health Care

48 min • 6,211 words • 376 comments • 123 likes • podcast
Scott Alexander responds to Robin Hanson's reply on medical effectiveness, clarifying interpretations and reiterating arguments about the limitations of insurance experiments in evaluating medical care. Longer summary
Scott Alexander responds to Robin Hanson's reply to his original post on medical effectiveness. Scott clarifies his interpretation of Hanson's views, discusses potential misunderstandings, and reiterates his arguments about the limitations of insurance experiments in evaluating medical effectiveness. He also addresses specific points Hanson made about cancer treatment, health insurance studies, and p-hacking in medical research. Scott concludes by restating his position that while some medicine is ineffective, it's crucial to distinguish between effective and ineffective treatments rather than dismissing medicine broadly. Shorter summary
Oct 27, 2023
acx

My Left Kidney

58 min • 7,464 words • 952 comments • 517 likes • podcast
Scott Alexander recounts his experience donating a kidney, from initial motivation to post-surgery recovery, while discussing the broader context of organ donation. Longer summary
Scott Alexander describes his journey to donate a kidney, including his motivations, the medical process, and the challenges he faced. He discusses the effectiveness of kidney donation compared to other forms of altruism, the stigma around mental health in the donation process, and the need for systemic changes to address the kidney shortage. Scott also reflects on the experience of the surgery and recovery, and encourages others to consider donation. Shorter summary
Jun 08, 2023
acx

Attempts To Put Statistics In Context, Put Into Context

11 min • 1,355 words • 228 comments • 246 likes • podcast
Scott Alexander explores the difficulties in contextualizing statistics, providing numerous examples to show how the same data can be presented to seem significant or trivial. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses the challenges of putting statistical findings into context, showing how different comparisons can make the same statistic seem either significant or trivial. He provides numerous examples of effect sizes and correlations from various fields to illustrate this point. The post aims to promote awareness of how statistics can be manipulated and encourages readers to be vigilant when interpreting contextual comparisons. Scott also acknowledges the limitations of using standardized effect sizes but argues for their utility in certain situations where more specific measures are difficult to comprehend. Shorter summary
Jan 19, 2022
acx

Book Review: Which Country Has The World's Best Health Care?

26 min • 3,356 words • 698 comments • 172 likes • podcast
Scott Alexander reviews a book comparing international healthcare systems, finding it informative but lacking in explaining why some systems succeed while others fail. Longer summary
Scott Alexander reviews 'Which Country Has The World's Best Health Care?' by Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a book comparing healthcare systems across 11 countries. The book categorizes systems into five types, from fully socialized to mostly privatized. Emanuel reluctantly concludes that Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Taiwan have the best systems. Scott finds the book informative but criticizes its organization and limited scope. He expresses confusion about why some systems work better than others, particularly regarding drug pricing and budget setting. The review highlights the complexity of healthcare economics and the difficulty in understanding why the US system performs poorly compared to seemingly similar systems in other countries. Shorter summary
Apr 14, 2021
acx

Prospectus On Próspera

104 min • 13,450 words • 553 comments • 225 likes • podcast
Scott Alexander examines Próspera, a new charter city project in Honduras, detailing its plans, governance, and potential impact while addressing criticisms and limitations. Longer summary
Scott Alexander provides a comprehensive overview of Próspera, a new charter city project in Honduras. He explains its origins, current status, ambitious plans, governance structure, and potential impact. The post also addresses criticisms and concerns about the project, while acknowledging its limitations and potential benefits. Shorter summary
Apr 24, 2020
ssc

Employer Provided Health Insurance Delenda Est

11 min • 1,387 words • 465 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander presents numerous examples of how the U.S. employer-provided health insurance system fails even insured, well-off individuals, arguing that almost any alternative system would be better. Longer summary
Scott Alexander critiques the employer-provided health insurance system in the United States, presenting numerous real-life examples of how it fails even well-off, insured individuals. He argues that the system creates unnecessary barriers to care, disrupts continuity of treatment, and traps people in undesirable life situations. The post illustrates how the current system fails not just the poor and uninsured, but also those who seemingly should benefit from it. Scott concludes that virtually any other healthcare system would resolve these issues. Shorter summary
Mar 31, 2020
ssc

SSC Journal Club: MacIntyre On Cloth Masks

13 min • 1,648 words • 124 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander analyzes a study suggesting cloth masks may be harmful, but remains cautiously in favor of their use despite the uncertainty. Longer summary
Scott Alexander examines a 2015 study by MacIntyre et al. on the efficacy of cloth masks compared to surgical masks and no masks in healthcare settings. The study found cloth masks performed worse than both surgical masks and the control group, raising concerns about their safety. However, Scott notes several limitations of the study and its interpretation. He leans towards believing cloth masks are still better than nothing, especially for blocking outgoing pathogens, but emphasizes the high uncertainty in this life-or-death decision during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shorter summary
Jun 24, 2019
ssc

More Confounders

15 min • 1,928 words • 166 comments • podcast
Scott examines studies linking sleeping pills to increased mortality, highlighting a new study that found no link after adjusting for 300 confounders, potentially challenging the validity of less thorough studies. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses a controversial topic in medical research: the link between sleeping pills and increased mortality. He reviews several studies that found a strong association between sleeping pill use and higher death rates from various causes, even after controlling for confounders. However, he then introduces a new study by Patorno et al. that found no such link for benzodiazepines. The key difference is that this study adjusted for an unprecedented 300 confounders using a new statistical algorithm. Scott suggests that if this study is correct, it could mean that many other medical studies that only control for a handful of confounders might be inadequate. He draws parallels to other fields where dramatically increasing scale or intensity has led to new insights. Shorter summary
Aug 30, 2018
ssc

Bureaucracy As Active Ingredient

5 min • 552 words • 268 comments • podcast
Scott examines the possibility that bureaucracy sometimes serves as an intentional barrier to discourage unnecessary requests, particularly in healthcare, but questions how widely this concept applies. Longer summary
This post explores the idea that bureaucracy might sometimes serve as an active ingredient in plans rather than just being inefficient. Scott presents a hypothetical scenario where insurance companies use bureaucratic hurdles to discourage unnecessary use of expensive medications. He suggests that the time and effort required to navigate bureaucracy can act as a filter, separating those who truly need a service from those who don't. However, Scott expresses uncertainty about how widely this concept applies, noting that it doesn't explain bureaucracy in places like the DMV. He concludes that while this idea might explain some instances of bureaucracy, particularly in healthcare, it shouldn't be overgeneralized. Shorter summary
Feb 15, 2018
ssc

Five More Years

25 min • 3,126 words • 597 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander provides detailed predictions for the next five years on topics ranging from AI and politics to science and culture, with probability estimates for specific outcomes. Longer summary
Scott Alexander makes predictions for the next five years, covering a wide range of topics including AI, politics, culture wars, economics, technology, and science. He discusses potential developments in AI capabilities, European politics, global economic trends, religious shifts in the US, the future of US political parties, culture war dynamics, healthcare and economic divides, cryptocurrency, genetic research, space exploration, and global risks. The post is structured with general predictions followed by specific numbered predictions with probability estimates for each topic. Scott maintains a skeptical tone about dramatic changes, often predicting gradual shifts or continuations of current trends rather than radical transformations. Shorter summary
Nov 21, 2017
ssc

Contra Robinson On Public Food

40 min • 5,158 words • 611 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander argues against Nathan Robinson's proposal for public cafeterias, instead favoring a system of food vouchers with taxes and subsidies to promote healthy eating. Longer summary
Scott Alexander responds to Nathan Robinson's proposal for a public food option, arguing that the existing system of vouchers plus taxes and subsidies is superior. He points out that a public cafeteria system would likely become stigmatized and low-quality, while vouchers allow poor people to access the same high-quality food as everyone else. Alexander then critiques the current implementation of agricultural subsidies and dietary guidelines, showing how government mismanagement has promoted unhealthy food. He argues that both capitalism and government are 'misaligned systems' that can produce bad outcomes, and that the solution is to pit multiple systems against each other with checks and balances rather than relying solely on government control. Shorter summary
Nov 10, 2016
ssc

Book Review: House of God

43 min • 5,502 words • 153 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander reviews 'House of God', a satirical novel about medical internship that exposed systemic issues in healthcare and influenced real-world changes. Longer summary
Scott Alexander reviews the novel 'House of God' by Samuel Shem, a satirical and magical realist portrayal of medical internship. The book uses dark humor and exaggeration to highlight the absurdities and ethical dilemmas in the medical system, particularly regarding the treatment of elderly patients. Scott discusses how the book inverts common assumptions about healthcare, its historical impact on medical practices, and its emotional resonance with his own experiences as a doctor. Shorter summary
May 14, 2016
ssc

Skin In The Game

30 min • 3,856 words • 574 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander examines the ethics of sympathy for workers in difficult professions, exploring the tension between economic incentives and personal experiences in shaping our views on labor issues. Longer summary
Scott Alexander explores the ethics of sympathy for workers in difficult professions, comparing his support for striking junior doctors with his lesser sympathy for struggling adjunct professors. He examines the role of personal experience, economic incentives, and societal obligations in shaping our views on these issues. The post delves into the complexities of 'skin in the game' arguments, discussing whether those directly affected by a situation have unique insights or are too biased to offer objective assessments. Scott uses personal anecdotes and hypothetical scenarios to illustrate the tension between rational economic arguments and emotional realities, ultimately questioning whether personal experience provides knowledge that can't be fully reduced to factual propositions. Shorter summary
May 12, 2016
ssc

Solidarity

22 min • 2,838 words • 928 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander discusses the British junior doctors' strike, detailing the harsh working conditions and systemic issues that likely led to it, based on his experience in a similar system. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses the recent strike by junior doctors in Britain, drawing on his experience in the Irish medical system. He describes the extremely demanding work conditions faced by junior doctors, including 100-hour work weeks and 36-hour shifts, which lead to burnout, depression, and a mass exodus of doctors to other countries. The British system responds by importing foreign doctors rather than addressing systemic issues. While Scott doesn't know the specifics of the current dispute, his experience leads him to sympathize with the junior doctors' position, believing their complaints are likely legitimate. He concludes by expressing a desire for a more principled system to address labor disputes, while acknowledging that in a socialized healthcare system, strikes may be necessary to address grievances. Shorter summary
Jan 20, 2016
ssc

Side Effects May Include Anything

9 min • 1,072 words • 286 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander criticizes websites that misleadingly suggest drug side effects by scraping FDA data, potentially causing patients to stop taking necessary medications. Longer summary
Scott Alexander criticizes websites like EHealthMe that automatically generate pages suggesting connections between drugs and side effects based on FDA data scraping. He argues these sites are misleading and potentially harmful, as they can cause patients to stop taking necessary medications due to unfounded fears of side effects. The post begins with a personal anecdote about a patient concerned about Xolair causing depression, then delves into how these websites operate and why their information is unreliable. Scott emphasizes the scummy nature of these practices and their potential to harm vulnerable individuals, concluding with a stark example of how such misinformation could lead to tragedy. Shorter summary
Mar 21, 2015
ssc

List Of Passages I Highlighted In My Copy Of “Machinery Of Freedom”

38 min • 4,824 words • 298 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander reviews and comments on passages from David Friedman's 'The Machinery of Freedom', discussing various libertarian ideas and their implications. Longer summary
Scott Alexander reviews and comments on various passages from David Friedman's book 'The Machinery of Freedom'. He highlights Friedman's arguments about love, trade, and force as means of cooperation; the historical development of regulation; healthcare costs for the poor; school vouchers; university reform; urban transit solutions; urban renewal; private space exploration; drug regulation; and workers buying out companies. Scott agrees with some points, critiques others, and adds his own insights and examples throughout. Shorter summary
Aug 23, 2014
ssc

Nobody Likes A Tattletale

15 min • 1,899 words • 113 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander explores the ethics of tattling and promise-keeping, arguing for the importance of trustworthy promises even when they conflict with moral imperatives. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses his conflicting feelings about a patient who reported another patient using heroin in rehab. He explores the concept of tattling and promise-keeping, comparing his stance to Leah Libresco's views on breaking immoral agreements. Scott argues for the importance of trustworthy promises in society, even when they might conflict with moral imperatives. He suggests that clear consequences for breaking promises, like in ancient oaths, might be preferable to the ambiguity of modern moral reasoning about promise-keeping. Shorter summary
Jul 24, 2014
ssc

Some Antibiotic Stagnation

10 min • 1,171 words • 44 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander debunks a misleading graph on antibiotic discovery and presents more accurate data, discussing reasons for the decline in antibiotic development. Longer summary
Scott Alexander critiques a misleading graph about antibiotic discovery, pointing out its numerous errors and omissions. He then presents his own data on antibiotic discovery rates, showing a decline but not as severe as the original graph suggested. The post discusses potential causes for this decline, including scientific challenges, economic factors, and regulatory issues. Scott also notes that using antibiotics as a measure of scientific progress may be unfair due to the nature of their discovery, and contrasts this with the rapid progress in antidiabetic drugs. Shorter summary
Jun 16, 2014
ssc

Things That Sometimes Help If You Have Depression

55 min • 7,128 words • 239 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander offers a comprehensive guide for treating depression, covering professional help, lifestyle changes, and supplements, emphasizing the importance of persistence in finding effective treatments. Longer summary
Scott Alexander provides a comprehensive guide for people with depression, covering diagnosis, treatment options, and self-help strategies. He starts by explaining how to determine if one has depression and strongly recommends seeing a doctor or psychiatrist. He then outlines a step-by-step treatment algorithm for doctors to follow, including various medications and therapies. The post also covers lifestyle interventions, supplements, and other strategies for those who can't or won't see a doctor. Scott emphasizes the importance of persistence in finding effective treatments and reassures readers that depression is often treatable with sufficient effort. Shorter summary
May 25, 2014
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Apologia Pro Vita Sua

6 min • 656 words • 35 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander compares his inability to allocate time for work tasks despite blogging regularly to heroin addicts' inability to allocate money for medication despite buying drugs. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses the parallel between heroin addicts' inability to allocate money for medication and his own struggle to allocate time for work tasks despite having time to blog. He explains that just as addicts can find money for drugs but not for medication, he can find time for blogging but struggles to find time for other tasks. Scott suggests that the real bottleneck is energy/willpower rather than time, and that blogging, being his 'addiction', doesn't require this resource. He acknowledges this is unfair to those waiting on him and mentions he should be less busy in the coming weeks. Shorter summary
May 06, 2014
ssc

Evening Doc

4 min • 401 words • 12 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander presents a parody of 'Piano Man' from a doctor's perspective, humorously portraying hospital life and patient care. Longer summary
This post is a creative parody of Billy Joel's 'Piano Man', rewritten from the perspective of a doctor in a hospital. It humorously depicts various patients and their medical conditions, while highlighting the challenges and ethical dilemmas faced by healthcare professionals. The song touches on themes of addiction, chronic illness, end-of-life care, and the sometimes grim realities of hospital work, all set to the familiar tune of the classic song. Shorter summary
May 02, 2014
ssc

Causal Models At Work

2 min • 171 words • 16 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander shares two humorous medical anecdotes that highlight the potential for misunderstanding complex health information. Longer summary
Scott Alexander shares two humorous anecdotes involving medical professionals and patients, highlighting the potential for misunderstanding when discussing complex medical information. The first involves a conversation with an AIDS specialist about life expectancy for HIV patients, while the second features Scott as a doctor discussing medication for alcoholism with a patient. Both stories demonstrate how literal interpretations of medical advice can lead to absurd conclusions, emphasizing the importance of clear communication in healthcare. Shorter summary
Mar 22, 2014
ssc

More Links for March 2014

10 min • 1,267 words • 85 comments • podcast
Scott shares and comments on a diverse collection of news items and interesting links from March 2014, covering topics from medical advances to political issues and quirky stories. Longer summary
This post is a collection of various links and news items from March 2014. Scott covers a range of topics including medical advances, political issues, social science research, and quirky news stories. He comments on each item, often with a skeptical or humorous tone. The post touches on subjects like fecal transplants, charity effectiveness, SAT preparation myths, prediction markets, and genetic research. Scott also discusses some sociological theories and shares interesting statistics and studies. Shorter summary
Sep 14, 2013
ssc

Giving and Accepting Apologies

24 min • 3,033 words • 37 comments • podcast
Scott Alexander explores the nuances of apologies, their meanings, and societal implications, using personal and political examples to illustrate the complexities involved. Longer summary
Scott Alexander discusses the complexities of giving and accepting apologies, using a personal anecdote from his hospital work and expanding to broader societal implications. He explores three different meanings of 'I'm sorry' and the difficulties in expressing regret without admitting fault. The post delves into the challenges politicians face when apologizing, the potential consequences of different types of apologies, and Scott's personal reflections on his ability to apologize and accept apologies. He concludes by advocating for a more nuanced understanding of apologies and the importance of accepting them in the spirit they are offered. Shorter summary