Dylan Mathews correctly notes:
“Literally any
other charity is a better choice. Paulson could give $400 million to distribute
bednets in sub-Saharan Africa, a highly cost-effective way to save lives. He
could give $400 million directly to poor people in Kenya and Uganda through
GiveDirectly. He could give $400 million to deworming efforts that spare
children ailments that can cause immense pain and poverty. He could give $400
million to the Open Philanthropy Project or the Gates Foundation or another
group doing careful, rigorous work to determine the best ways to use charitable
resources to make the world a better place.
Higher education in
the US is generally a bad place to donate, but if Paulson insisted, he could
give $400 million to a public university that's serving overwhelmingly poor
students. He could give to $400 million unselective colleges that, unlike
Harvard, don't concentrate resources toward already advantaged smart kids less
in need of help. He could, in fact, do everything listed above, because he's crazy stupid rich.”