Doug Webber
@dougwebberecon.bsky.social
Principal Economist, @federalreserve. Opinions are my own. I have many dogs.
I was listening to this part of the podcast on a crowded train this morning, and I couldn't hold it together. Openly laughing and probably looking like a crazy person.
Will Arnett was on Conan and told a story about how Conan dealt with the death of his parents by accusing Jason Bateman of killing them. It’s so funny.
December 9, 2025 at 10:49 PM
I was listening to this part of the podcast on a crowded train this morning, and I couldn't hold it together. Openly laughing and probably looking like a crazy person.
Reposted by Doug Webber
@dubravkaritter.bsky.social, @dougwebberecon.bsky.social, and I have a new Education Next article out that offers a less technical look at our research on predicting college closures using machine learning techniques.
Colleges Are Closing. Who Might Be Next?
How machine learning can fill data gaps and help forecast the future
www.educationnext.org
November 25, 2025 at 10:13 AM
@dubravkaritter.bsky.social, @dougwebberecon.bsky.social, and I have a new Education Next article out that offers a less technical look at our research on predicting college closures using machine learning techniques.
I truly enjoy a mischevious dog who likes to cause minor trouble.
July 15, 2025 at 1:40 AM
I truly enjoy a mischevious dog who likes to cause minor trouble.
"The combination of luck, the courage to make mistakes, and a little initiative can lead to much success. But know this: the world needs more from you than personal achievements and individual success. I strongly urge you to find time in your careers for public service." -Chair Powell
Baccalaureate remarks by Chair Powell at the Princeton University Baccalaureate Ceremony
Thank you, President Eisgruber, for the opportunity to speak here today. Congratulations to the Princeton University class of 2025 on the tremendous achievemen
www.federalreserve.gov
May 25, 2025 at 8:31 PM
"The combination of luck, the courage to make mistakes, and a little initiative can lead to much success. But know this: the world needs more from you than personal achievements and individual success. I strongly urge you to find time in your careers for public service." -Chair Powell
Reposted by Doug Webber
New study: The relative wage premium for going to college has halved for low-income Americans since 1960.
What is to blame? Rising selectivity? Tuition hikes? State disinvestment? We decompose changes in the premium since 1900 to find out.
🧵#EconTwitter nber.org/papers/w33797
What is to blame? Rising selectivity? Tuition hikes? State disinvestment? We decompose changes in the premium since 1900 to find out.
🧵#EconTwitter nber.org/papers/w33797
May 19, 2025 at 11:24 AM
New study: The relative wage premium for going to college has halved for low-income Americans since 1960.
What is to blame? Rising selectivity? Tuition hikes? State disinvestment? We decompose changes in the premium since 1900 to find out.
🧵#EconTwitter nber.org/papers/w33797
What is to blame? Rising selectivity? Tuition hikes? State disinvestment? We decompose changes in the premium since 1900 to find out.
🧵#EconTwitter nber.org/papers/w33797
Actual conversation:
Catherine: "Doug!"
Me: "Yes?
C: "Do you want to see something really cool!?"
Me: "Is it another STATA graph?"
C: "Yes!"
Catherine: "Doug!"
Me: "Yes?
C: "Do you want to see something really cool!?"
Me: "Is it another STATA graph?"
C: "Yes!"
May 13, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Actual conversation:
Catherine: "Doug!"
Me: "Yes?
C: "Do you want to see something really cool!?"
Me: "Is it another STATA graph?"
C: "Yes!"
Catherine: "Doug!"
Me: "Yes?
C: "Do you want to see something really cool!?"
Me: "Is it another STATA graph?"
C: "Yes!"
I am constantly amazed at what assistive technology can do compared to when I was a kid.
Insanely cool post talking about Touch2See technology and how it let a visually impaired fan track the match perfectly in real time at San Diego FC.
www.reddit.com/r/MLS/s/cKei...
www.reddit.com/r/MLS/s/cKei...
From the MLS community on Reddit: I didn’t just hear the game, I lived it
Explore this post and more from the MLS community
www.reddit.com
April 28, 2025 at 2:58 AM
I am constantly amazed at what assistive technology can do compared to when I was a kid.
Molly says "Go Birds!"
February 10, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Molly says "Go Birds!"
My view from the kitchen while I am cooking dinner.
February 2, 2025 at 11:36 PM
My view from the kitchen while I am cooking dinner.
Reposted by Doug Webber
As I am now handling papers at AEJ:Policy again, I want to encourage authors of papers that identify partial equilibrium effects to consider (in a rigorous manner) how they relate to policy effects or general equilibrium effects.
January 11, 2025 at 4:10 PM
As I am now handling papers at AEJ:Policy again, I want to encourage authors of papers that identify partial equilibrium effects to consider (in a rigorous manner) how they relate to policy effects or general equilibrium effects.
Reposted by Doug Webber
Using new IPEDS finance data, I took a look at the public and private colleges that consistently lose money. Forty-nine of the nearly 1,500 four-year institutions with available data lost money in eight or more of the last ten years--not a good sign. robertkelchen.com/2025/01/07/w...
Which Colleges Always Lose Money?
It is safe to say that there is a lot of concern right now about the financial viability of higher education. And while I think fewer colleges are going to close than pundits predict (and check out…
robertkelchen.com
January 7, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Using new IPEDS finance data, I took a look at the public and private colleges that consistently lose money. Forty-nine of the nearly 1,500 four-year institutions with available data lost money in eight or more of the last ten years--not a good sign. robertkelchen.com/2025/01/07/w...
I really wish Apple would pivot this toward the low-vision community. With some costless changes (granting developer access to the cameras/allow zoom) it would instantly be the best high-tech assistive device on the market.
Apple has reportedly stopped production on its $3,500 Vision Pro due to lack of demand.
vgc.news/news/apple-h...
vgc.news/news/apple-h...
Apple has reportedly stopped production on its $3,500 Vision Pro due to lack of demand | VGC
Apple has reportedly decided to end Vision Pro production due to a high amount of unsold stock…
vgc.news
January 4, 2025 at 4:01 PM
I really wish Apple would pivot this toward the low-vision community. With some costless changes (granting developer access to the cameras/allow zoom) it would instantly be the best high-tech assistive device on the market.
Reposted by Doug Webber
Here is the reading list that I will be using when I get to teach a PhD class in higher education finance this spring. Happy reading! robertkelchen.com/2025/01/02/m...
My 2025 Higher Ed Finance Reading List
I hope that everyone had a restful break and is excited to come back for what will undoubtedly be an eventful year in the world of higher education. This spring is going to be quite busy for me wit…
robertkelchen.com
January 2, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Here is the reading list that I will be using when I get to teach a PhD class in higher education finance this spring. Happy reading! robertkelchen.com/2025/01/02/m...
Reposted by Doug Webber
I'll leave it to others to review Jimmy Carter's political legacy - but I'm going to reshare this extraordinary story of how - as young Navy engineer - he had himself lowered into a nuclear reactor undergoing meltdown to fix the jammed control rods.🧪
www.physicsresourcebank.com/post/jimmy-c...
www.physicsresourcebank.com/post/jimmy-c...
December 29, 2024 at 9:40 PM
I'll leave it to others to review Jimmy Carter's political legacy - but I'm going to reshare this extraordinary story of how - as young Navy engineer - he had himself lowered into a nuclear reactor undergoing meltdown to fix the jammed control rods.🧪
www.physicsresourcebank.com/post/jimmy-c...
www.physicsresourcebank.com/post/jimmy-c...
Reposted by Doug Webber
People sometimes make fun of science that sounds stupid and random.
Meanwhile, a study of lizard saliva turned into a peptide medication, which was turned into a diabetes medication, which was turned into a GLP1 weight loss drug, that just became the first therapy every approved for … sleep apnea
Meanwhile, a study of lizard saliva turned into a peptide medication, which was turned into a diabetes medication, which was turned into a GLP1 weight loss drug, that just became the first therapy every approved for … sleep apnea
Breaking News: The FDA approved use of the weight loss drug Zepbound for a common form of sleep apnea. It is the first drug authorized to treat the disorder.
F.D.A. Approves Weight-Loss Drug to Treat Sleep Apnea
Zepbound is the first prescription drug approved specifically to treat the common condition.
www.nytimes.com
December 21, 2024 at 12:41 AM
People sometimes make fun of science that sounds stupid and random.
Meanwhile, a study of lizard saliva turned into a peptide medication, which was turned into a diabetes medication, which was turned into a GLP1 weight loss drug, that just became the first therapy every approved for … sleep apnea
Meanwhile, a study of lizard saliva turned into a peptide medication, which was turned into a diabetes medication, which was turned into a GLP1 weight loss drug, that just became the first therapy every approved for … sleep apnea
Reposted by Doug Webber
(From Fed Board post on X. Great opportunity for PhD students doing macro! #econsky)
The Federal Reserve Board is hiring Ph.D. Dissertation Fellows for summer 2025. Applications will be accepted through February 1, 2025.
To learn more and apply, visit: frbog.taleo.net/careersectio...
The Federal Reserve Board is hiring Ph.D. Dissertation Fellows for summer 2025. Applications will be accepted through February 1, 2025.
To learn more and apply, visit: frbog.taleo.net/careersectio...
Graduate Dissertation Fellow Program, Economic Research (Summer 2025)
Click the link provided to see the complete job description.
frbog.taleo.net
December 20, 2024 at 4:23 PM
(From Fed Board post on X. Great opportunity for PhD students doing macro! #econsky)
The Federal Reserve Board is hiring Ph.D. Dissertation Fellows for summer 2025. Applications will be accepted through February 1, 2025.
To learn more and apply, visit: frbog.taleo.net/careersectio...
The Federal Reserve Board is hiring Ph.D. Dissertation Fellows for summer 2025. Applications will be accepted through February 1, 2025.
To learn more and apply, visit: frbog.taleo.net/careersectio...
Reposted by Doug Webber
Just in time before the holidays! New FEDS Notes with my coauthor Anna Tranfaglia on gender differences in credit card limit *changes*. www.federalreserve.gov/econres/note...
A Note on Gender Differences in Credit Card Limit Changes
The Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington DC.
www.federalreserve.gov
December 20, 2024 at 7:19 PM
Just in time before the holidays! New FEDS Notes with my coauthor Anna Tranfaglia on gender differences in credit card limit *changes*. www.federalreserve.gov/econres/note...
Reposted by Doug Webber
Operating costs for higher education rose by an estimated 3.4% in Fiscal Year 2024. For most colleges, revenue did not increase to match, requiring pulling from reserves or making cuts.
College operating costs rose 3.4% in fiscal 2024
Commonfund Institute’s latest Higher Education Price Index shows that cost spikes slowed — but that doesn’t make them any less painful.
www.highereddive.com
December 17, 2024 at 1:05 AM
Operating costs for higher education rose by an estimated 3.4% in Fiscal Year 2024. For most colleges, revenue did not increase to match, requiring pulling from reserves or making cuts.
Reposted by Doug Webber
As of 2024-12-01, the # of total jobs listed on JOE is down 4.9% from this point last year, down 25.1% from 2022, and down 15.7% from 2021. 2/8
December 9, 2024 at 9:17 PM
As of 2024-12-01, the # of total jobs listed on JOE is down 4.9% from this point last year, down 25.1% from 2022, and down 15.7% from 2021. 2/8
Reposted by Doug Webber
From our AEA cttee on the job market, here's the December update on the status of the job mkt for PhD economists of the 2024-25 cycle.
A thread with graphs follows...
#EconJobMarket
#EconSky
@aeainformation.bsky.social
@aeacswep.bsky.social
@joelistings.bsky.social
1/9
A thread with graphs follows...
#EconJobMarket
#EconSky
@aeainformation.bsky.social
@aeacswep.bsky.social
@joelistings.bsky.social
1/9
December 9, 2024 at 9:16 PM
From our AEA cttee on the job market, here's the December update on the status of the job mkt for PhD economists of the 2024-25 cycle.
A thread with graphs follows...
#EconJobMarket
#EconSky
@aeainformation.bsky.social
@aeacswep.bsky.social
@joelistings.bsky.social
1/9
A thread with graphs follows...
#EconJobMarket
#EconSky
@aeainformation.bsky.social
@aeacswep.bsky.social
@joelistings.bsky.social
1/9
Reposted by Doug Webber
College closures have been in the news lately, and especially in the greater Philly area. @dougwebberecon.bsky.social and @robertkelchen.com and I have been working on improving on existing methods for predicting closures — and financial distress more generally — in higher ed. Check out the paper!
I have a new @nberpubs.bsky.social working paper out with @dubravkaritter.bsky.social and @dougwebberecon.bsky.social that examines the extent to which college closures can be predicted. Using machine learning, we improve on traditional models. But it's still hard to predict exact closure dates.
Predicting College Closures and Financial Distress
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...
www.nber.org
December 2, 2024 at 12:41 PM
College closures have been in the news lately, and especially in the greater Philly area. @dougwebberecon.bsky.social and @robertkelchen.com and I have been working on improving on existing methods for predicting closures — and financial distress more generally — in higher ed. Check out the paper!
Economists on Thanksgiving (and every day tbh): "I am thankful for FRED"
nothing will make you appreciate FRED more than trying to use non-US public stats databases
November 28, 2024 at 3:32 PM
Economists on Thanksgiving (and every day tbh): "I am thankful for FRED"
I was woken up this morning by a kissing-attack and this view
November 23, 2024 at 3:47 PM
I was woken up this morning by a kissing-attack and this view
Reposted by Doug Webber
Got the ball rolling on a Fed Economists starter pack go.bsky.app/GudXeoo
Fed economists, let me know if you’re on Bluesky and I’ll add you
Fed economists, let me know if you’re on Bluesky and I’ll add you
November 15, 2024 at 9:23 PM
Got the ball rolling on a Fed Economists starter pack go.bsky.app/GudXeoo
Fed economists, let me know if you’re on Bluesky and I’ll add you
Fed economists, let me know if you’re on Bluesky and I’ll add you