Nancy Birdsall
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nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall
@nbirdsall.bsky.social
250 followers 17 following 91 posts

development economist, president emerita Center for Global Development (@cgdev.org), hoping some of my Twitter followers move over to BlueSky

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Nancy Birdsall is an American economist, the founding president of the Center for Global Development (CGD) in Washington, DC, USA, and former executive vice-president of the Inter-American Development Bank. .. more

Economics 57%
Sociology 17%
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nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · 12d
I'm surprised and depressed. "...time alone won’t close that gap—it will require intentional efforts to rethink how economic leadership is identified and appointed." www.cgdev.org/blog/where-a... @eeshani.bsky.social
Where Are the Women? Gender and Technocracy among Economic Advisers in Latin America and the Caribbean
We analyze data on senior economic advisers in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) from 1961 to 2020 and find a striking and persistent gender gap at the very top of economic decision-making across ...
www.cgdev.org

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · 13d
good if you're wondering about the merits or not of stablecoins: www.imf.org/en/publicati...

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · 13d
Ouch. $3 billion compared to $85 billion.
charlesjkenny.bsky.social Charles Kenny @charlesjkenny.bsky.social · 14d
US Development Finance Corporation did $3.5bn in business last year.

For comparison, China's Belt and Road investments last year were about $85bn.

www.cgdev.org/blog/looking...
greenfdc.org/china-belt-a...

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · 13d
“Michael Bloomberg doesn’t let himself be bullied.” Bravo to Bloomberg on climate financing: www.ft.com/content/69d6...
Michael Bloomberg tops up climate spending to beyond $3bn
Billionaire behind eponymous financial data terminals becomes more influential in funding as others retreat
www.ft.com

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · 14d
"We know you know we're lying." Why we're scared of our own govt in USA. From @hcrichardson.bsky.social post today.

Reposted by Nancy Birdsall

charlesjkenny.bsky.social
Charles Kenny @charlesjkenny.bsky.social · 14d
US Development Finance Corporation did $3.5bn in business last year.

For comparison, China's Belt and Road investments last year were about $85bn.

www.cgdev.org/blog/looking...
greenfdc.org/china-belt-a...

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · 14d
Krugman's coda asks: Will the ICE killings in Minneapolis be, as with the Kent State 1970 killings of Vietnam War protesters, when enough Americans say "enough" of ICE/Trump impunity?
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
Was This a Murder Too Far?
The execution of Alex Pretti has made even some MAGA loyalists waver
open.substack.com

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · 14d
"We know you know we're lying." Heather Cox Richardson today --"It's time for elected Republicans to say something".

Reposted by Nancy Birdsall

solarsunfire.bsky.social
M.G. Thai, PhD @solarsunfire.bsky.social · 15d
I’ve been thinking about this song a lot lately.

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · 17d
What the Democrats should do, starting now: contrarian.substack.com/p/so-you-wan.... (Who will fund the Dem equivalent of Heritage F 2025?)
So, You Want to Run for President?
What 2028 aspirants should consider before running
contrarian.substack.com

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · 17d
World Bank's record profits could help fund IDA. Yes IDA a priority. But 🙏 some portion to to Livable Planet Fund -- to protect the poor everywhere from ravages of climate change. www.cgdev.org/blog/world-b.... Thanks Clemence @cgdev.org
www.cgdev.org

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · 26d
"...a breathtaking level of naivete and hubris..." Excellent write-up on the Trump approach to Venezuela/oil: www.cgdev.org/blog/barreli... @cgdev.org
Barreling Blindly Ahead: The Seizure of Venezuela’s Oil
The notion that the US can restore “prosperity, safety and security” to Venezuela through threats and coercion directed at its government as well as reluctant US oil executives is the height of folly....
www.cgdev.org

Reposted by Nancy Birdsall, Jacob T. Levy, Scott A. Imberman

mclem.org
Michael Clemens @mclem.org · 26d
US tariffs are taxes on Americans.

The Trump tariffs amount to an average tax increase per US household of $1,500 in 2026.

They are the largest US tax increase as a percent of GDP since 1993.

Impact tracker by @taxfoundation.bsky.social —>
Tracking the Economic Impact of the Trump Tariffs
The Trump tariffs are the largest US tax increase as a percent of GDP since 1993 and amount to an average tax increase per US household of $1,500 in 2026.
taxfoundation.org

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · 28d
What Americans have lost with end of USAID -- more than you think -- by former Rep and Dem heads: thehill.com/opinion/inte... (End of DHS a blow to development economists) @cgdev.org @charlesjkenny.bsky.social @eeshani.bsky.social @ecollinson.bsky.social @ifpri.org
What Americans lost in the dismantling of USAID
Many Americans do not realize how profoundly the loss of USAID will affect us here at home.
thehill.com

Reposted by Nancy Birdsall

jenrubin.bsky.social
Jen Rubin @jenrubin.bsky.social · 28d
contrarian.substack.com/p/ices-reign... Democrats in Congress, with a funding deadline approaching, should take note of the massive turnout at anti-ICE events over the weekend, reflecting the level of rage that is bubbling up in both blue and red states.
ICE’s Reign of Terror and Violence Must End
Voters can bring ICE to heel
contrarian.substack.com

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · Jan 10
"Corina Machado, someone who could represent a regime change in VEnezuela is being stonewalled by Trump out of pique." With @pkrugman.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=29tv...
Phillips O'Brien on Venezuela and More
YouTube video by Paul Krugman
www.youtube.com

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · Jan 8
I'm attending Indivisible's event, “Rapid Response Call: ICE Killing and Lawlessness in Minneapolis” - sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/thirdact/eve...
Rapid Response Call: ICE Killing and Lawlessness in Minneapolis · Third Act Initiative, Inc.
Join us Thursday, January 8th, at 8:00 pm ET / 5:00 pm PT to discuss the killing by ICE in Minneapolis and their lawlessness and harm in communities across the country. We will talk with local and n...
www.mobilize.us

Reposted by Nancy Birdsall, David K. Evans, Michael Kevane , and 1 more

mclem.org
Michael Clemens @mclem.org · Jan 8
An entire social science paper, synthesized from nothing in one hour.

I see academic researchers very excited about this.

It seems to me catastrophic. “Flooding the zone“ will break our strained systems to distinguish between good and bad research.

I hope you’ll explain why I’m wrong. (Really)

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · Dec 25
When the history of this cruel era is written, the shame should be no less than the shame we now feel about the roundups and detention of Japanese Americans in World War II.The Brazen Cruelty of the Trump Regime
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...
The Brazen Cruelty of the Trump Regime
Its plan to warehouse immigrants has shades of Nazi concentration camps and America's shameful imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
open.substack.com

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · Dec 23
"There is little doubt many people have died." The authors are careful and convincing: 1 to 1.5 million people, mostly in Africa in 2025. My heart goes out to mothers who lost DOGE babies.

Reposted by Nancy Birdsall

cgdev.org
Center for Global Development @cgdev.org · Dec 22
The projected death toll from USAID program cancellations is rising.

New analysis by @charlesjkenny.bsky.social and @justsand.bsky.social finds current cuts could cost 1 million lives now, and even more with future reductions.
https://go.cgdev.org/4s0Z8w7
Update on Lives Lost from USAID Cuts
In this blog, we report on an update to our earlier estimates of the potential mortality impacts of the administration’s aid cuts. A similar approach to our original estimates using financial data to ...
go.cgdev.org

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · Dec 22
@justsand.bsky.social concludes: Development finance (eg World Bank IFC) for poor countries should go to making STUFF(as in manufacturing) for EXPORT) not to banks. (As in East Asia Miracle -- exporters got publicly funded credit subsidies.)

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · Dec 21
From a friend: "Why can’t people just stay in their own plundered countries? Yes - tricky, that..." Reminding me of Bill Easterly's notable new book Violent Saviors.

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · Dec 20
"And I say again what I have often said for a long time: thank you feminism." @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social here: www.meditationsinanemergency.com/feminism-ver...
Feminism Versus Trump and Epstein
We already knew that Jeffrey Epstein had sexually assaulted and exploited dozens of girls and young women, that he had done so openly, that his dehumanization of the vulnerable had not prevented a who...
www.meditationsinanemergency.com

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · Dec 20
Wonderful photos! including Lant Pritchett in a suit and I think that's Angus Deaton in the fine bow tie. Bill Easterly is a modern Adam Smith.
mclem.org Michael Clemens @mclem.org · Dec 2
It was a privilege to honor Bill Easterly at his retirement party at @nyu.edu alongside some of the people I admire most: @nbirdsall.bsky.social, Lant Prichett, Angus Deaton, Clive Crook, Yaw Nyarko, Jonathan Morduch & scores of others.

Bill's unstoppable intellect and generosity changed my life.

Reposted by Michael A. Clemens

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · Dec 20
... Now @worldbank001.bsky.social economists should draw lessons on the prerequisites for effective IP from the East Asian countries' success -- tech education; formal business-govt fora; postal savings equivalent for digital era; a well-paid civil service, more.....
mclem.org Michael Clemens @mclem.org · Dec 19
The great @nbirdsall.bsky.social has a new paper in @aeajournals.bsky.social

She asks how the lessons of the monumental 'East Asian Miracle' report hold up 32 years later.

Was it too skeptical of industrial policy, which is now back in fashion? No, for *most* countries—>

doi.org/10.1257/jep....

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · Dec 20
"Trump has, effectively, chosen white supremacy over national greatness." @martinwolfhh.bsky.social chatting with @pkrugman.bsky.social about new US National Security Strategy (2 great economists on our children's future on Krugman Substack). Don't miss it.

Reposted by Nancy Birdsall

mclem.org
Michael Clemens @mclem.org · Dec 19
The great @nbirdsall.bsky.social has a new paper in @aeajournals.bsky.social

She asks how the lessons of the monumental 'East Asian Miracle' report hold up 32 years later.

Was it too skeptical of industrial policy, which is now back in fashion? No, for *most* countries—>

doi.org/10.1257/jep....

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · Dec 18
Not in the "speech" last night: Manufacturing jobs shrank under Trump.
steverattner.bsky.social Steve Rattner @steverattner.bsky.social · Dec 18
Health care and social assistance have led employment growth this year. Despite Trump’s efforts, manufacturing saw among the worst job losses.

My @morningjoe-msnow.bsky.social Chart

nbirdsall.bsky.social
Nancy Birdsall @nbirdsall.bsky.social · Dec 18
Attn: African Development Bank, including the private sector window: get onto this before the next pandemic: www.cgdev.org/blog/unfinis... @cgdev.org i
The Unfinished Agenda on Diversifying Vaccine Manufacturing: Six Takeaways from CGD Research
The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the asymmetries of the global vaccine landscape. This blog distills takeaways from recent CGD analysis, highlighting unresolved questions and technical, political, and ...
www.cgdev.org