Bitsy Perlman
@bitsyperlman.bsky.social
Economic Historian at the Census. 19th & 21st C innovation, sci of sci, urban/spatial, info spread. All views are my own or expressed for rhetorical exposition. Posts before 2025 were imported. (they/them)
Brookline, MA
Brookline, MA
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
Watch livestream of the panel I'm moderating at ASSA assameeting.bsky.social on the state of US government economic statistics on Monday, Jan 5, at 8 AM EST here: www.aeaweb.org/conference/l... #econsky
January 2, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Watch livestream of the panel I'm moderating at ASSA assameeting.bsky.social on the state of US government economic statistics on Monday, Jan 5, at 8 AM EST here: www.aeaweb.org/conference/l... #econsky
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
#Econsky: I'm presenting new research at #ASSA2026 in a @sgeecon.bsky.social session this Monday at 8 AM titled "Does remote work slow growth and promotions?" Please join us!
January 2, 2026 at 4:21 PM
#Econsky: I'm presenting new research at #ASSA2026 in a @sgeecon.bsky.social session this Monday at 8 AM titled "Does remote work slow growth and promotions?" Please join us!
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
Are you a PhD student interested in the economics of innovation? The Economics of Ideas, Science, and Innovation Online short course, hosted by IFP, is back for the third time! ifp.org/economics-of...
Economics of Ideas, Science, and Innovation Online PhD Short Course | Institute for Progress
ifp.org
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 PM
Are you a PhD student interested in the economics of innovation? The Economics of Ideas, Science, and Innovation Online short course, hosted by IFP, is back for the third time! ifp.org/economics-of...
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime..." At least that’s what we said when we hanged the Nazis. See avalon.law.yale.edu/imt/09-30-46...
January 3, 2026 at 5:28 PM
"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime..." At least that’s what we said when we hanged the Nazis. See avalon.law.yale.edu/imt/09-30-46...
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
This online, PhD-level course in the economics of innovation is a huge opportunity.
Taught by some of the world's top scholars on this: @heidiwilliams.bsky.social, Chad Jones, Azoulay, van Reenen, many others! Co-sponsor @ifp.bsky.social
If you're admitted, it's free. Applications due January 9th!
Taught by some of the world's top scholars on this: @heidiwilliams.bsky.social, Chad Jones, Azoulay, van Reenen, many others! Co-sponsor @ifp.bsky.social
If you're admitted, it's free. Applications due January 9th!
Economics of Ideas, Science, and Innovation Online PhD Short Course | Institute for Progress
ifp.org
January 3, 2026 at 3:09 PM
This online, PhD-level course in the economics of innovation is a huge opportunity.
Taught by some of the world's top scholars on this: @heidiwilliams.bsky.social, Chad Jones, Azoulay, van Reenen, many others! Co-sponsor @ifp.bsky.social
If you're admitted, it's free. Applications due January 9th!
Taught by some of the world's top scholars on this: @heidiwilliams.bsky.social, Chad Jones, Azoulay, van Reenen, many others! Co-sponsor @ifp.bsky.social
If you're admitted, it's free. Applications due January 9th!
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
Joining the throng of economists taking a delayed Amtrak to PHL today to present my JMP at #ASSA2026!
📍 Philadelphia Convention Center, 204-A (Elementary & Secondary Education)
⏰ Sunday, 1/4, 10:15-12:15
#EconConf
📍 Philadelphia Convention Center, 204-A (Elementary & Secondary Education)
⏰ Sunday, 1/4, 10:15-12:15
#EconConf
👋 I'm Danielle, and I'm on the #econjobmarket this year!
Let's start with a student describing her segregated school:
"The school felt temporary. Built like a warehouse with aluminum siding . . . I had a slipshod education"
The twist? The student is white, and her school is private.
A JMP 🧵 -->
Let's start with a student describing her segregated school:
"The school felt temporary. Built like a warehouse with aluminum siding . . . I had a slipshod education"
The twist? The student is white, and her school is private.
A JMP 🧵 -->
January 2, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
I don’t have the energy to do a year-end thread right now, but this series is our attempt at analyzing the impacts of this year on biomedical research … and what could come next
The series tackles everything from diversity grants, a brain drain, lack of comms, and plenty more
The series tackles everything from diversity grants, a brain drain, lack of comms, and plenty more
Explore American Science, Shattered
A multipart series on how the Trump administration has disrupted labs, upended lives, and delayed discoveries
Part 1: Scientists lost a reliable partner, with ‘nothing to replace it’
www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/a...
By @mmolteni.bsky.social @aniloza.bsky.social
A multipart series on how the Trump administration has disrupted labs, upended lives, and delayed discoveries
Part 1: Scientists lost a reliable partner, with ‘nothing to replace it’
www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/a...
By @mmolteni.bsky.social @aniloza.bsky.social
Trump has ‘shaken the hell’ out of the 80-year research pact between the government and universities. What now?
Trump has "shaken the hell" out of the 80-year research pact between the government and universities. What now?
www.statnews.com
December 31, 2025 at 8:31 PM
I don’t have the energy to do a year-end thread right now, but this series is our attempt at analyzing the impacts of this year on biomedical research … and what could come next
The series tackles everything from diversity grants, a brain drain, lack of comms, and plenty more
The series tackles everything from diversity grants, a brain drain, lack of comms, and plenty more
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
Most of the 13 statistical agencies have lost from 20% to 30% of their staff since fiscal 2024, according to the report.
www.nextgov.com/people/2025/...
www.nextgov.com/people/2025/...
Report: Federal statistical system needs help to meet its ‘basic mission’ in the face of upheaval
Statistical agencies have lost scores of staff under the Trump administration, threatening their ability to meet their mission, according to a new report from the American Statistical Association.
www.nextgov.com
December 31, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Most of the 13 statistical agencies have lost from 20% to 30% of their staff since fiscal 2024, according to the report.
www.nextgov.com/people/2025/...
www.nextgov.com/people/2025/...
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
Livestreamed from the ASSA meetings. Jan 5, 8 AM- 10 AM EST: The State of Government Statistics:
- Karen Dynan
- Bill Beach
- Loretta Mester
- Seth Carpenter
- Jed Kolko
moderated by me
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
- Karen Dynan
- Bill Beach
- Loretta Mester
- Seth Carpenter
- Jed Kolko
moderated by me
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
American Economic Association
www.aeaweb.org
December 30, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Livestreamed from the ASSA meetings. Jan 5, 8 AM- 10 AM EST: The State of Government Statistics:
- Karen Dynan
- Bill Beach
- Loretta Mester
- Seth Carpenter
- Jed Kolko
moderated by me
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
- Karen Dynan
- Bill Beach
- Loretta Mester
- Seth Carpenter
- Jed Kolko
moderated by me
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
Being the best economist I can and leaning into the #econ5k prize category in which I have a comparative advantage: Coldest
My runkeeper is on the right, my running companion's Strava is on the left. Strava's temperature reading is -1F
My runkeeper is on the right, my running companion's Strava is on the left. Strava's temperature reading is -1F
December 26, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Being the best economist I can and leaning into the #econ5k prize category in which I have a comparative advantage: Coldest
My runkeeper is on the right, my running companion's Strava is on the left. Strava's temperature reading is -1F
My runkeeper is on the right, my running companion's Strava is on the left. Strava's temperature reading is -1F
Being the best economist I can and leaning into the #econ5k prize category in which I have a comparative advantage: Coldest
My runkeeper is on the right, my running companion's Strava is on the left. Strava's temperature reading is -1F
My runkeeper is on the right, my running companion's Strava is on the left. Strava's temperature reading is -1F
December 26, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Being the best economist I can and leaning into the #econ5k prize category in which I have a comparative advantage: Coldest
My runkeeper is on the right, my running companion's Strava is on the left. Strava's temperature reading is -1F
My runkeeper is on the right, my running companion's Strava is on the left. Strava's temperature reading is -1F
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
They’re not perfect, but golly, public universities are one of the best engines of economic mobility we have
Recently accepted by #QJE, “Marginal Returns to Public Universities,” by Jack Mountjoy: doi.org/10.1093/qje/...
Marginal Returns to Public Universities
Abstract. This paper studies the returns to enrolling in American public universities by comparing the long-term outcomes of barely admitted versus barely
doi.org
December 25, 2025 at 12:15 AM
They’re not perfect, but golly, public universities are one of the best engines of economic mobility we have
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
Powerful short documentary about the researchers affected by NIH grant terminations and broad extortion of universities.
youtu.be/DaTOmUZHeik
1/2
youtu.be/DaTOmUZHeik
1/2
Death By a Thousand Cuts Capstone Archive Submission
YouTube video by Usha Sookai
youtu.be
December 23, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Powerful short documentary about the researchers affected by NIH grant terminations and broad extortion of universities.
youtu.be/DaTOmUZHeik
1/2
youtu.be/DaTOmUZHeik
1/2
We can back this up with a stacked diff in diffs too: weiyangtham.com/files/tcps_f...
(new conditionally accepted version out soon)
We find that a funding interruption... increases the probability of not working in the US by 3 percentage points (40%) .
(new conditionally accepted version out soon)
We find that a funding interruption... increases the probability of not working in the US by 3 percentage points (40%) .
December 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
We can back this up with a stacked diff in diffs too: weiyangtham.com/files/tcps_f...
(new conditionally accepted version out soon)
We find that a funding interruption... increases the probability of not working in the US by 3 percentage points (40%) .
(new conditionally accepted version out soon)
We find that a funding interruption... increases the probability of not working in the US by 3 percentage points (40%) .
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
December 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
Returned to @briefingbook.bsky.social today with @gsgoda.bsky.social to update on disability status and employment since the pandemic. Disability is still up, especially cognitive issues among young people. And, building on Gopi’s work with Evan Soltas… www.briefingbook.info/p/rising-pre...
Rising prevalence of disability is part of COVID-19's evolving labor market legacy
Negative effects on labor force participation persist, as do higher rates of disability and employment among those with disabilities
www.briefingbook.info
December 22, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Returned to @briefingbook.bsky.social today with @gsgoda.bsky.social to update on disability status and employment since the pandemic. Disability is still up, especially cognitive issues among young people. And, building on Gopi’s work with Evan Soltas… www.briefingbook.info/p/rising-pre...
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
On Thursday, the Republican-controlled Senate voted 53-43 along party lines to confirm Joyce Meyer’s nomination to be the next undersecretary of commerce for economic affairs to oversee the Census Bureau
www.senate.gov/legislative/...
www.senate.gov/legislative/...
U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 119th Congress - 1st Session
www.senate.gov
December 19, 2025 at 1:40 PM
On Thursday, the Republican-controlled Senate voted 53-43 along party lines to confirm Joyce Meyer’s nomination to be the next undersecretary of commerce for economic affairs to oversee the Census Bureau
www.senate.gov/legislative/...
www.senate.gov/legislative/...
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
That FBI video of the suspected Brown shooter is wrong. He didn't head north on Hope, he headed East on Waterman, toward Cooke st. He didn't turn south on Cooke because that's where all the ring cameras that saw him milling about two hours prior are. So he either continued east towards Governor St..
December 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
That FBI video of the suspected Brown shooter is wrong. He didn't head north on Hope, he headed East on Waterman, toward Cooke st. He didn't turn south on Cooke because that's where all the ring cameras that saw him milling about two hours prior are. So he either continued east towards Governor St..
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
"We welcome PhDs to a round table table discussion from assistant professors who were recently on the job market"
December 16, 2025 at 9:28 AM
"We welcome PhDs to a round table table discussion from assistant professors who were recently on the job market"
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
I've spent all day struggling to write a single page of a popular science article. I bang away at a word processor; give up; start diagramming on paper. Take some notes; draft a few sentences in pen; return to the computer...and very slowly I figure out what I was trying to say in the first place.
December 16, 2025 at 11:41 PM
I've spent all day struggling to write a single page of a popular science article. I bang away at a word processor; give up; start diagramming on paper. Take some notes; draft a few sentences in pen; return to the computer...and very slowly I figure out what I was trying to say in the first place.
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
My least popular (and most correct) view is that cars should be automatically limited to the local speed limit. Put the pedal to the floor and you still can't go over 25mph in a residential area.
(15 in Manhattan btw)
(15 in Manhattan btw)
There is no possible justification for limiting e-bikes to 15mph but not cars.
New York Has a New E-Bike Speed Limit—and No Way to Enforce It
August 9, 2025 at 4:47 PM
My least popular (and most correct) view is that cars should be automatically limited to the local speed limit. Put the pedal to the floor and you still can't go over 25mph in a residential area.
(15 in Manhattan btw)
(15 in Manhattan btw)
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
Kudos to the researchers who retracted once they realised their results hinged on a single point.
To check this in your own work, for small fractions of your data set (not just single points), check out our R package! cc @tamarabroderick.bsky.social (ryan not on here?)
github.com/rgiordan/zam...
To check this in your own work, for small fractions of your data set (not just single points), check out our R package! cc @tamarabroderick.bsky.social (ryan not on here?)
github.com/rgiordan/zam...
December 12, 2025 at 6:32 AM
Kudos to the researchers who retracted once they realised their results hinged on a single point.
To check this in your own work, for small fractions of your data set (not just single points), check out our R package! cc @tamarabroderick.bsky.social (ryan not on here?)
github.com/rgiordan/zam...
To check this in your own work, for small fractions of your data set (not just single points), check out our R package! cc @tamarabroderick.bsky.social (ryan not on here?)
github.com/rgiordan/zam...
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
You can do this right now:
Think of a person who wrote a paper you love, whose work influenced or helped you, or has made your professional life better.
Search up their email address. Shoot them a quick email of thanks. It means so, so much. This is a rough time of year, share some joy.
Think of a person who wrote a paper you love, whose work influenced or helped you, or has made your professional life better.
Search up their email address. Shoot them a quick email of thanks. It means so, so much. This is a rough time of year, share some joy.
December 11, 2025 at 10:08 PM
You can do this right now:
Think of a person who wrote a paper you love, whose work influenced or helped you, or has made your professional life better.
Search up their email address. Shoot them a quick email of thanks. It means so, so much. This is a rough time of year, share some joy.
Think of a person who wrote a paper you love, whose work influenced or helped you, or has made your professional life better.
Search up their email address. Shoot them a quick email of thanks. It means so, so much. This is a rough time of year, share some joy.