Ed Dolan
@dolanecon.bsky.social
Economist, Senior Fellow at Niskanen Center. Political economy, social policy, environmental economics and more.
Pinned
Ed Dolan
@dolanecon.bsky.social
· May 6
Trump's rule-breaking is going far beyond what even the most pessimistic imagined. These data shows that rule-breaking populist rulers do not make their countries great -- far from it! tiny.cc/pya7001
I ran across a Redditt thread (not new) that suggests US oil companies aren't really much interested in access to Venezuela's heavy sour crude. (See image for a small sample of the thread) Has anyone seen more on this topic from sources that know the industry well? www.reddit.com/r/stocks/com...
January 4, 2026 at 3:23 AM
I ran across a Redditt thread (not new) that suggests US oil companies aren't really much interested in access to Venezuela's heavy sour crude. (See image for a small sample of the thread) Has anyone seen more on this topic from sources that know the industry well? www.reddit.com/r/stocks/com...
Now a new Gallup poll shows 64% want immigration to stay the same or increase, clearing the way for immigration to resume its role as a safety valve to smooth the transition to a low-fertility future (hat tip to @pkrugman.bsky.social ) paulkrugman.substack.com/p/immigrant-...?
December 31, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Now a new Gallup poll shows 64% want immigration to stay the same or increase, clearing the way for immigration to resume its role as a safety valve to smooth the transition to a low-fertility future (hat tip to @pkrugman.bsky.social ) paulkrugman.substack.com/p/immigrant-...?
In a May '25 post, I cited Gallup data to show that American attitudes made it unrealistic to count on immigration to smooth population trends -- most people wanted to cut immigration or keep it the same. The latest data (next slide) show a sharp change www.milkenreview.org/articles/the... ...
The Birth Dearth: Panic or Celebrate?
www.milkenreview.org
December 31, 2025 at 1:37 PM
In a May '25 post, I cited Gallup data to show that American attitudes made it unrealistic to count on immigration to smooth population trends -- most people wanted to cut immigration or keep it the same. The latest data (next slide) show a sharp change www.milkenreview.org/articles/the... ...
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Technical workarounds that the agency used to deal with the collection issues may have biased the November figure downward, causing inflation to be understated." Let's wait to celebrate the end of inflation. www.wsj.com/economy/cons...
Technical workarounds that the agency used to deal with the collection issues may have biased the November figure downward, causing inflation to be understated." Let's wait to celebrate the end of inflation. www.wsj.com/economy/cons...
Inflation Eased to 2.7% in Report Distorted by Government Shutdown
Consumer prices rose 2.7% in November from a year earlier, according to a delayed government report, slowing from 3% in September.
www.wsj.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:05 PM
"
Technical workarounds that the agency used to deal with the collection issues may have biased the November figure downward, causing inflation to be understated." Let's wait to celebrate the end of inflation. www.wsj.com/economy/cons...
Technical workarounds that the agency used to deal with the collection issues may have biased the November figure downward, causing inflation to be understated." Let's wait to celebrate the end of inflation. www.wsj.com/economy/cons...
Glad you liked it. Stopped mowing our "lawn," amazing how many plant and animal species now inhabit it.
December 8, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Glad you liked it. Stopped mowing our "lawn," amazing how many plant and animal species now inhabit it.
Makes sense to me. Good concept.
November 30, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Makes sense to me. Good concept.
According to this account, Russian foreign policy is in disarray. open.substack.com/pub/ironcurt...
The crisis of influence: How war and administrative stagnation undermine Russia’s foreign policy
November 16, 2025
open.substack.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:15 PM
According to this account, Russian foreign policy is in disarray. open.substack.com/pub/ironcurt...
Great article on the importance of grasslands and biodiversity, including the role of very small, lawn-sized plots with dozens of different plant species. www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
Column | Scientists discover an ancient landscape – in our own backyard
Newly discovered patches of ancient landscape have somehow managed to survive without being turned into a farm, forest or subdivision.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Great article on the importance of grasslands and biodiversity, including the role of very small, lawn-sized plots with dozens of different plant species. www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...
As @pkrugman.bsky.social explains, the GOP is shooting itself in the foot with its cutoff of SNAP funding. Just a glance at this map shows that SNAP cutoffs hit red counties (well, darker green on this map) harder than blue. paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-hunger...
October 28, 2025 at 12:27 PM
As @pkrugman.bsky.social explains, the GOP is shooting itself in the foot with its cutoff of SNAP funding. Just a glance at this map shows that SNAP cutoffs hit red counties (well, darker green on this map) harder than blue. paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-hunger...
Interesting. Is it that the whole concept of private ownership + rental of housing is destructive, or that it can go either destructive or constructive depending on ... depending on what?
October 15, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Interesting. Is it that the whole concept of private ownership + rental of housing is destructive, or that it can go either destructive or constructive depending on ... depending on what?
This is a little far left for my left-of-centerish views. I have a friend who has long run a small apartment building, fairly as far as I can tell and with moderate but not excessive profit. I get the idea he finds it quite a demanding job to do it right.
October 12, 2025 at 10:12 PM
This is a little far left for my left-of-centerish views. I have a friend who has long run a small apartment building, fairly as far as I can tell and with moderate but not excessive profit. I get the idea he finds it quite a demanding job to do it right.
Administration's immigration policy is disrupting farm labor market. This piece highlights the fact that no one seems to be thinking this through carefully. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Trump administration says immigration enforcement threatens higher food prices
U.S. farmers face labor shortages and potential food price hikes due to Trump’s immigration policy, the administration acknowledged in a Federal Registry document.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 11, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Administration's immigration policy is disrupting farm labor market. This piece highlights the fact that no one seems to be thinking this through carefully. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
From @niskanencenter.bsky.social , a potentially powerful tool to ease the nationwide housing shortage. www.niskanencenter.org/home-field-a...
HOME field advantage: Leveraging HUD dollars to build more housing - Niskanen Center
This proposal represents the single biggest action HUD could take on its own to increase housing supply and open the possibility to substantially address the U.S. housing affordability crisis.
www.niskanencenter.org
October 10, 2025 at 12:16 PM
From @niskanencenter.bsky.social , a potentially powerful tool to ease the nationwide housing shortage. www.niskanencenter.org/home-field-a...
Sometimes we have to say "no." This yes-no-yes approach makes it easier to do without unnecessary antagonism. www.talkmarkets.com/content/sayi...
Saying No To Empower Your Yes: Practical Ways To Disagree Without Picking A Fight
By prefacing a principled
www.talkmarkets.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Sometimes we have to say "no." This yes-no-yes approach makes it easier to do without unnecessary antagonism. www.talkmarkets.com/content/sayi...
2/2 To be a little nuanced, it is not that I'm saying students themselves are making a mistake to choose engineering over philosophy. It's rather that I'm saddened that employers don't realize that humanities majors have a lot to offer their firms. Not to mention what they have to offer as citizens.
September 23, 2025 at 12:18 PM
2/2 To be a little nuanced, it is not that I'm saying students themselves are making a mistake to choose engineering over philosophy. It's rather that I'm saddened that employers don't realize that humanities majors have a lot to offer their firms. Not to mention what they have to offer as citizens.
1/2 Alarmed by the decrease in college enrollment? Most of the drop is in low-quality schools, says @prestoncooper93.bsky.social . Although humanities majors like me will be saddened by erosion of deeper learning in favor of career-boosting majors. prestoncooper93.substack.com/p/why-the-co...
September 23, 2025 at 12:18 PM
1/2 Alarmed by the decrease in college enrollment? Most of the drop is in low-quality schools, says @prestoncooper93.bsky.social . Although humanities majors like me will be saddened by erosion of deeper learning in favor of career-boosting majors. prestoncooper93.substack.com/p/why-the-co...
It's far too soon to know the full effects of the Administration's war on immigration. But one thing is already clear: It isn't creating jobs www.wsj.com/opinion/trum...
Opinion | Trump Secured the Border, So Where Are the Jobs?
There’s little evidence that less immigration means more opportunities for Americans to work.
www.wsj.com
September 17, 2025 at 11:51 AM
It's far too soon to know the full effects of the Administration's war on immigration. But one thing is already clear: It isn't creating jobs www.wsj.com/opinion/trum...
Forget about meaningless year-on-year inflation. What's important is what is happening now. August CPI inflation was 4.5 percent compounded annual rate -- and rising fast.
September 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Forget about meaningless year-on-year inflation. What's important is what is happening now. August CPI inflation was 4.5 percent compounded annual rate -- and rising fast.
This California bill promotes more housing near transit hubs. Lists arguments for and against. Looks to me that the listed arguments against are things that make me like it better. www.slowboring.com/p/breaking-d...
Breaking down State Senate Bill 79
California debates a major transit-oriented housing reform
www.slowboring.com
August 26, 2025 at 12:44 PM
This California bill promotes more housing near transit hubs. Lists arguments for and against. Looks to me that the listed arguments against are things that make me like it better. www.slowboring.com/p/breaking-d...
Very good. Let's hope more letters are in the works.
August 26, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Very good. Let's hope more letters are in the works.
Those of us in the academic world write about "state capacity." Sometimes that term is just too wonky for those who live on planet Earth. Here is a case study that says exactly what "state capacity" means in that real world. (Hat-tip to @pahlkadot.bsky.social ) www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025...
FEMA staff warn Trump officials’ actions risk a Katrina-level disaster
About 180 FEMA employees, many of them anonymous, signed a letter to Congress arguing that agency leadership has hindered the ability to effectively manage emergencies.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Those of us in the academic world write about "state capacity." Sometimes that term is just too wonky for those who live on planet Earth. Here is a case study that says exactly what "state capacity" means in that real world. (Hat-tip to @pahlkadot.bsky.social ) www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025...
"President says he’ll decide later “whose fault it is” that Moscow and Kyiv have not moved closer to end the war." (If he hasn't figured that out yet, things don't look good.) wapo.st/3JvvRrN
Frustrated, Trump signals pause in his Ukraine peace effort
The president, who had said a deal to end the war could be reached soon, expressed frustration over lack of progress and signaled he would pause his efforts.
wapo.st
August 23, 2025 at 8:27 PM
"President says he’ll decide later “whose fault it is” that Moscow and Kyiv have not moved closer to end the war." (If he hasn't figured that out yet, things don't look good.) wapo.st/3JvvRrN
IMO sustainability depends in large part on oil prices and any impediments to volume of oil exports.
August 23, 2025 at 8:23 PM
IMO sustainability depends in large part on oil prices and any impediments to volume of oil exports.
By some reports, Russia is "winning" the war in Ukraine. However, the cost to its economy is enormous. meduza.io/en/feature/2...
As the Kremlin stalls on peace talks, Russia’s economy shows mounting strain — Meduza
The wartime mobilization of Russia’s economy has drained its reserves, though the country has so far avoided slipping into a recession. Civilian industries are stagnating or already shrinking, while o...
meduza.io
August 22, 2025 at 12:11 AM
By some reports, Russia is "winning" the war in Ukraine. However, the cost to its economy is enormous. meduza.io/en/feature/2...