Alexander Kustov
@akoustov.bsky.social
Prof at Notre Dame (alexanderkustov.org). Author of "In Our Interest: How Democracies Can Make Immigration Popular" (http://tinyurl.com/4rwpr6dc). Writing at "Popular by Design" (http://tinyurl.com/b93bwr9j).
Pinned
Alexander Kustov
@akoustov.bsky.social
· Dec 18
I'm still in disbelief, but I have some doubly good news: I got tenure, and in January I'm starting as an Associate Professor at @notredame.bsky.social's Keough School of Global Affairs. I'm excited to keep working on making immigration policy better in theory and practice.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Nick Vivyan, Chris Hanretty (@chanret.bsky.social) and I have a new book out: “Idiosyncratic Issue Opinion and Political Choice”. The core of the book is making the argument that citizens’ views about political issues neither reduce to an ideological orientation nor to a lack of substance. (1/10)
February 13, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Nick Vivyan, Chris Hanretty (@chanret.bsky.social) and I have a new book out: “Idiosyncratic Issue Opinion and Political Choice”. The core of the book is making the argument that citizens’ views about political issues neither reduce to an ideological orientation nor to a lack of substance. (1/10)
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
I have a new paper. We look at ~all stats articles in political science post-2010 & show that 94% have abstracts that claim to reject a null. Only 2% present only null results. This is hard to explain unless the research process has a filter that only lets rejections through.
February 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM
I have a new paper. We look at ~all stats articles in political science post-2010 & show that 94% have abstracts that claim to reject a null. Only 2% present only null results. This is hard to explain unless the research process has a filter that only lets rejections through.
Legal and ethical issues aside, the reality is that folks who submit their paper anywhere should be prepared for their work to be uploaded and analyzed by some kind of AI algorithm.
Introducing box checking doesn't do anything about that in equilibrium.
Introducing box checking doesn't do anything about that in equilibrium.
Some journals are now requesting reviewers affirm that they did not upload manuscripts into AI platforms.
February 13, 2026 at 1:31 AM
Legal and ethical issues aside, the reality is that folks who submit their paper anywhere should be prepared for their work to be uploaded and analyzed by some kind of AI algorithm.
Introducing box checking doesn't do anything about that in equilibrium.
Introducing box checking doesn't do anything about that in equilibrium.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
My pro-immigration misinformation piece that will probably annoy almost everyone is finally out. If you care about democratic trust or are just curious what liberal elites don't want to say out loud, this is for you.
Feel free to tell me why I'm wrong.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/the-uncomf...
Feel free to tell me why I'm wrong.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/the-uncomf...
January 22, 2026 at 4:26 PM
My pro-immigration misinformation piece that will probably annoy almost everyone is finally out. If you care about democratic trust or are just curious what liberal elites don't want to say out loud, this is for you.
Feel free to tell me why I'm wrong.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/the-uncomf...
Feel free to tell me why I'm wrong.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/the-uncomf...
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Gallup says it will stop doing presidential approval polls (after 88 years of doing it) because of "an evolution in how Gallup focuses it's public research". This is eliminating a time series that goes back to FDR.
thehill.com/homenews/med...
thehill.com/homenews/med...
thehill.com
February 11, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Gallup says it will stop doing presidential approval polls (after 88 years of doing it) because of "an evolution in how Gallup focuses it's public research". This is eliminating a time series that goes back to FDR.
thehill.com/homenews/med...
thehill.com/homenews/med...
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
My reflections on going viral for challenging pro-immigration orthodoxy: what I learned, what I should have done differently, and why I'm still convinced telling the truth matters even when colleagues fear it gives ammunition to the other side.
Reflections on “The Uncomfortable Truths about Immigration”
What I learned, what I got wrong, and answers to the most common questions.
alexanderkustov.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:27 PM
My reflections on going viral for challenging pro-immigration orthodoxy: what I learned, what I should have done differently, and why I'm still convinced telling the truth matters even when colleagues fear it gives ammunition to the other side.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
“We noticed some anger from doctors last week. That’s why we invited RFK Jr. to talk about vaccines”
February 11, 2026 at 12:53 AM
“We noticed some anger from doctors last week. That’s why we invited RFK Jr. to talk about vaccines”
My reflections on going viral for challenging pro-immigration orthodoxy: what I learned, what I should have done differently, and why I'm still convinced telling the truth matters even when colleagues fear it gives ammunition to the other side.
Reflections on “The Uncomfortable Truths about Immigration”
What I learned, what I got wrong, and answers to the most common questions.
alexanderkustov.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:27 PM
My reflections on going viral for challenging pro-immigration orthodoxy: what I learned, what I should have done differently, and why I'm still convinced telling the truth matters even when colleagues fear it gives ammunition to the other side.
My tentative book talk schedule for 2026 is up. Reach out if you want to join any of these events or organize one at your org.
February 10, 2026 at 6:06 PM
My tentative book talk schedule for 2026 is up. Reach out if you want to join any of these events or organize one at your org.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
My sense is that not much has changed since we wrote this for @washingtonpost.com in 2020.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
February 9, 2026 at 11:51 PM
My sense is that not much has changed since we wrote this for @washingtonpost.com in 2020.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
"Academic publishing as it currently exists is dead."
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
February 10, 2026 at 4:32 AM
"Academic publishing as it currently exists is dead."
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
"Academic publishing as it currently exists is dead."
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
February 10, 2026 at 4:32 AM
"Academic publishing as it currently exists is dead."
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
This is probably overstated, but if you're an early-career academic, it's worth taking seriously that tenured Stanford professors who've been working with AI more than most are saying things like this out loud now.
My sense is that not much has changed since we wrote this for @washingtonpost.com in 2020.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
February 9, 2026 at 11:51 PM
My sense is that not much has changed since we wrote this for @washingtonpost.com in 2020.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
Puerto Ricans keep voting for statehood. But as long as many Americans don't even know Puerto Ricans are US citizens, it's hard for statehood to become a political priority on the mainland.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
"Public intellectual" might be too generous a description of John Stewart, but I'm sharing this link because it documents similar behavior--reckless disregard for the truth in criticizing the field of economics to a large audience: www.theargumentmag.com/p/jon-stewar...
Jon Stewart has become his own worst nightmare
Econ 101? In this economy?
www.theargumentmag.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:53 PM
"Public intellectual" might be too generous a description of John Stewart, but I'm sharing this link because it documents similar behavior--reckless disregard for the truth in criticizing the field of economics to a large audience: www.theargumentmag.com/p/jon-stewar...
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Great to see "In Our Interest" reviewed in the Law Society Gazette, UK's largest legal publication: "A timely and worthwhile read."
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
February 8, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Great to see "In Our Interest" reviewed in the Law Society Gazette, UK's largest legal publication: "A timely and worthwhile read."
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Here we go again... With Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl, it looks like many folks still don't realize that Puerto Ricans are US citizens.
I'm usually skeptical of info campaigns to change minds, but in this case, we show that learning this forbidden knowledge is politically important.
I'm usually skeptical of info campaigns to change minds, but in this case, we show that learning this forbidden knowledge is politically important.
February 8, 2026 at 2:50 AM
Here we go again... With Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl, it looks like many folks still don't realize that Puerto Ricans are US citizens.
I'm usually skeptical of info campaigns to change minds, but in this case, we show that learning this forbidden knowledge is politically important.
I'm usually skeptical of info campaigns to change minds, but in this case, we show that learning this forbidden knowledge is politically important.
Great to see "In Our Interest" reviewed in the Law Society Gazette, UK's largest legal publication: "A timely and worthwhile read."
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
February 8, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Great to see "In Our Interest" reviewed in the Law Society Gazette, UK's largest legal publication: "A timely and worthwhile read."
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
The reviewer, a migration solicitor, puts it well: the paradox isn't that people oppose immigration, it's that we keep designing systems that undermine their trust.
Here we go again... With Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl, it looks like many folks still don't realize that Puerto Ricans are US citizens.
I'm usually skeptical of info campaigns to change minds, but in this case, we show that learning this forbidden knowledge is politically important.
I'm usually skeptical of info campaigns to change minds, but in this case, we show that learning this forbidden knowledge is politically important.
February 8, 2026 at 2:50 AM
Here we go again... With Bad Bunny headlining the Super Bowl, it looks like many folks still don't realize that Puerto Ricans are US citizens.
I'm usually skeptical of info campaigns to change minds, but in this case, we show that learning this forbidden knowledge is politically important.
I'm usually skeptical of info campaigns to change minds, but in this case, we show that learning this forbidden knowledge is politically important.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
At Ohio State U, faculty hiring committees sometimes explicitly considered candidates’ race and sex, in pursuit of diversity.
I spent some time exploring how OSU, and all of higher ed, seemingly ignored both the legal and reputational risk staring it in the face.
www.chronicle.com/article/dive...
I spent some time exploring how OSU, and all of higher ed, seemingly ignored both the legal and reputational risk staring it in the face.
www.chronicle.com/article/dive...
How Colleges’ Pursuit of a Diverse Professoriate Came Back to Bite Them
What was once an urgent imperative has become a legal and political liability. One university’s experience shows how.
www.chronicle.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:10 PM
At Ohio State U, faculty hiring committees sometimes explicitly considered candidates’ race and sex, in pursuit of diversity.
I spent some time exploring how OSU, and all of higher ed, seemingly ignored both the legal and reputational risk staring it in the face.
www.chronicle.com/article/dive...
I spent some time exploring how OSU, and all of higher ed, seemingly ignored both the legal and reputational risk staring it in the face.
www.chronicle.com/article/dive...
I often disagree with @gelliottmorris.com on how to interpret public opinion on immigration, but this work of asking people concrete questions about what they want to keep or change in enforcement is very valuable.
New piece: From body cams to masks to independent investigations of recent shootings, the public supports a wide range of major reforms for ICE/federal agents www.gelliottmorris.com/p/what-ameri...
February 6, 2026 at 7:42 PM
I often disagree with @gelliottmorris.com on how to interpret public opinion on immigration, but this work of asking people concrete questions about what they want to keep or change in enforcement is very valuable.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Have you wondered why exactly it is that single-family zoning leads to racial segregation? I wrote this little article to figure it out. I use an agent based model to show it is a combination of race-based wealth inequality, homophily, & clustering of housing types in zoning maps.
#OpenAccess from @psrm.bsky.social -
When restrictive economic zoning leads to racial segregation - https://cup.org/4ti5BDM
"results indicate that land use regulations contribute to the maintenance of racial segregation across neighborhoods"
- @trounstine.bsky.social
#FirstView
When restrictive economic zoning leads to racial segregation - https://cup.org/4ti5BDM
"results indicate that land use regulations contribute to the maintenance of racial segregation across neighborhoods"
- @trounstine.bsky.social
#FirstView
February 5, 2026 at 2:32 AM
Have you wondered why exactly it is that single-family zoning leads to racial segregation? I wrote this little article to figure it out. I use an agent based model to show it is a combination of race-based wealth inequality, homophily, & clustering of housing types in zoning maps.
You know immigration politics isn't going away anytime soon when you get two separate NYT calls in one day to explain what's happening on two different continents without even any allusion to Trump or ICE.
I guess, if there's a plus side, it never gets boring.
I guess, if there's a plus side, it never gets boring.
February 5, 2026 at 7:37 PM
You know immigration politics isn't going away anytime soon when you get two separate NYT calls in one day to explain what's happening on two different continents without even any allusion to Trump or ICE.
I guess, if there's a plus side, it never gets boring.
I guess, if there's a plus side, it never gets boring.
This is right—what we're seeing is textbook thermostatic reaction to overreach, not a fundamental shift in immigration attitudes. The risk is Democrats reading it as a mandate for "abolish ICE" rather than a demand for competent enforcement. The thermostat swings both ways.
How Trump Botched Immigration and Gave Democrats a Win • Which Democrats may immediately fumble away.
How Trump Botched Immigration and Gave Democrats a Win
Which Democrats may immediately fumble away.
www.liberalpatriot.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:40 PM
This is right—what we're seeing is textbook thermostatic reaction to overreach, not a fundamental shift in immigration attitudes. The risk is Democrats reading it as a mandate for "abolish ICE" rather than a demand for competent enforcement. The thermostat swings both ways.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Hot take: AI-driven productivity gains could reverse the trend toward increased co-authorship in the social sciences.
Coordination costs don't disappear just because the work gets faster—if anything, they become the bottleneck.
P.S. To all my current co-authors: you're the best :)
Coordination costs don't disappear just because the work gets faster—if anything, they become the bottleneck.
P.S. To all my current co-authors: you're the best :)
February 4, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Hot take: AI-driven productivity gains could reverse the trend toward increased co-authorship in the social sciences.
Coordination costs don't disappear just because the work gets faster—if anything, they become the bottleneck.
P.S. To all my current co-authors: you're the best :)
Coordination costs don't disappear just because the work gets faster—if anything, they become the bottleneck.
P.S. To all my current co-authors: you're the best :)
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
As someone who has long argued that politicians should try to meet voters where they are more, I actually agree that professors don’t have to do that.
College is not a democracy. If we want, we can just start enforcing standards and failing students again.
College is not a democracy. If we want, we can just start enforcing standards and failing students again.
“At some point over the past 15 years, kids stopped reading”—but that’s because not enough teachers are asking them to, Walt Hunter writes:
C’mon, Professors, Assign the Hard Reading
College kids aren’t reading novels—but that’s because not enough teachers are asking them to.
bit.ly
February 5, 2026 at 3:02 AM
As someone who has long argued that politicians should try to meet voters where they are more, I actually agree that professors don’t have to do that.
College is not a democracy. If we want, we can just start enforcing standards and failing students again.
College is not a democracy. If we want, we can just start enforcing standards and failing students again.