“Preventing Animal Suffering Lock-in: Why Economic Transitions Matter” by Karen Singleton

Abstract

This post explores how emerging economic systems could lock in harmful defaults for animals and outlines a research agenda to identify opportunities and begin the groundwork for embedding animal welfare into future frameworks before it's too late.

Acknowledgements: Thanks to Ian Andrews, Kevin Xia and Andrew McCallum for thoughtful feedback on an earlier draft of this post. All mistakes are my own.

TL;DR

• Our economic system commodifies ~ 1.6 trillion animals annually.
• This system is being destabilised by many factors including AI, climate breakdown, inequality and institutional decay.
• These disruptions create rare openings to reshape foundational values.
• Industrial capitalism embedded speciesism at scale, new systems could do the same.
• This post outlines a neglected research agenda exploring how to integrate animal welfare into emerging economic frameworks before lock-in occurs.
• It suggests initial directions (such as integrating animal welfare into post-growth metrics and AI governance) and invites feedback [...]

---

Outline:

(00:12) Abstract

(00:40) TL;DR

(01:31) Introduction: why I'm writing this now

(02:12) Why economic paradigms matter for animals

(03:04) We need to hedge across plausible futures

(03:44) The logic of lock in: lessons from AI policy

(05:33) A new research space: animal welfare meets economic transition

(06:30) Avoiding false choices: long-term strategy, not a substitute

(07:40) Why now: a critical window for foundational change

(09:38) How current systems entrench suffering

(12:08) From reaction to prevention: what transition periods make possible

(13:53) A  research agenda: preventing future harm

(14:13) Research aims

(15:37) Strategic actions

(17:22) Mapping future systems: three paradigms, three risks

(19:32) Case study: degrowth and animal invisibility

(20:15) Conclusion: Steering the future before its set

---

First published:

July 28th, 2025

Source:

https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/yKx4JskGWc9noAtqW/preventing-animal-suffering-lock-in-why-economic-transitions

---

Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

---

Images from the article:

Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try Pocket Casts, or another podcast app.