Edgar Castro
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edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
Edgar Castro
@edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
87 followers 1K following 69 posts
Liberal economist | Free markets & liberal democracy |
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edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
Be prepared for the biggest market bull in a century...
May 29, 2025 at 8:52 AM
edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
Academic freedom must be defended no matter the cost
nikobowie.bsky.social Niko Bowie @nikobowie.bsky.social · Apr 14
BREAKING: On Friday, the federal government issued new demands of Harvard University. The university's lawyers just responded: back off.
April 14, 2025 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL Josh Gruenbaum Commissioner of the Federal Acquisition Service General Services Administration Sean R. Keveney Acting General Counsel U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Thomas E. Wheeler Acting General Counsel U.S. Department of Education Dear Messrs. Gruenbaum, Keveney, and Wheeler: We represent Harvard University. We are writing in response to your letter dated April 11, 2025, addressed to Dr. Alan Garber, Harvard’s President, and Penny Pritzker, Senior Fellow of the Harvard Corporation. Harvard is committed to fighting antisemitism and other forms of bigotry in its community. Antisemitism and discrimination of any kind not only are abhorrent and antithetical to Harvard’s values but also threaten its academic mission. To that end, Harvard has made, and will continue to make, lasting and robust structural, policy, and programmatic changes to ensure that the university is a welcoming and supportive learning environment for all students and continues to abide in all respects with federal law across its academic programs and operations, while fostering open inquiry in a pluralistic community free from intimidation and open to challenging orthodoxies, whatever their source. Over the past 15 months, Harvard has undertaken substantial policy and programmatic measures. It has made changes to its campus use policies; adopted new accountability procedures; imposed meaningful discipline for those who violate university policies; enhanced programs designed to address bias and promote ideological diversity and civil discourse; hired staff to support these programs and support students; changed partnerships; dedicated resources to combat hate and bias; and enhanced safety and security measures. As a result, Harvard is in a very different place today from where it was a year ago. These efforts, and additional measures the university will be taking against antisemitism, not only are the right thing to do but also are critical to strength… recognized by the Supreme Court. The government’s terms also circumvent Harvard’s statutory rights by requiring unsupported and disruptive remedies for alleged harms that the government has not proven through mandatory processes established by Congress and required by law. No less objectionable is the condition, first made explicit in the letter of March 31, 2025, that Harvard accede to these terms or risk the loss of billions of dollars in federal funding critical to vital research and innovation that has saved and improved lives and allowed Harvard to play a central role in making our country’s scientific, medical, and other research communities the standard-bearers for the world. These demands extend not only to Harvard but to separately incorporated and independently operated medical and research hospitals engaging in life-saving work on behalf of their patients. The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government. Accordingly, Harvard will not accept the government’s terms as an agreement in principle. Harvard remains open to dialogue about what the university has done, and is planning to do, to improve the experience of every member of its community. But Harvard is not prepared to agree to demands that go beyond the lawful authority of this or any administration. William A. Burck Robert K. Hur Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP 1300 I Street NW Suite 900 Suite 900 Washington, DC 20005 King & Spalding LLP 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20006
April 15, 2025 at 5:19 AM
edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
It's a time to unite and act to defend core values.
projectliberal.org Project Liberal 🗽 @projectliberal.org · Apr 13
Liberals can no longer remain fragmented, clinging to meaningless labels.

We must go on the offensive.

The new Project Liberal manifesto is live: buff.ly/LhKVrgc
The Liberal Manifesto
Our Path to a Free and Open Future
substack.com
April 13, 2025 at 10:53 PM
edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
The federal government is now openly using funding cuts as a weapon to intimidate universities into submission.
April 9, 2025 at 2:54 AM
edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
Another blow from Trump to American university that rely on revenue from international students

www.wsj.com/us-news/educ...
Student Visas Are Being Revoked Without Reason or Warning, Colleges Say
Colleges say the cancellations have caused fear and confusion on campuses across the U.S.
www.wsj.com
April 8, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Reposted by Edgar Castro
joshuaeakle.com
This is Neri Alvarado, a baker from Dallas, pictured here with his 15-year-old brother.

Today, Neri is suffering in a prison camp in El Salvador—one of the most violent prisons in the world. A thread. 🧵

/1
March 27, 2025 at 1:26 AM
edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
New tariffs emerged. By isolating itself, the US is giving China the global market, making China great again.
March 27, 2025 at 2:17 AM
edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
A Korean legal US resident and student at Columbia University is being profiled and persecuted by ICE for exercising her right to free speech. The U.S. is only one step away from asking immigrants to wear yellow stars.

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/n...
Columbia Student Hunted by ICE Sues to Prevent Deportation
Yunseo Chung, a legal permanent resident who has lived in the U.S. since she was 7, participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Immigration agents visited residences looking for her.
www.nytimes.com
March 26, 2025 at 8:24 AM
edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
An important read for anyone involved in public health or policy. A validating one for those of us who questioned the heavy-handed measures adopted under deep uncertainty—a pattern that extends beyond COVID-19 to climate policy, AI regulation, and financial crisis management
princetonupress.bsky.social Princeton University Press @princetonupress.bsky.social · Mar 11
Stephen Macedo and Frances Lee's In Covid's Wake offers the first comprehensive—and candid—political assessment of how our institutions fared during the pandemic, examining what our failures during the pandemic cost us, and why we must do better.

Out now: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
In COVID's Wake: How Our Politics Failed Us by Stephen Macedo & Frances Lee
March 22, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Reposted by Edgar Castro
projectliberal.org
The great political struggle of our time isn't left versus right.

It's liberalism versus illiberalism.
March 16, 2025 at 8:00 AM
edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
Trump’s Economic Outlook: Policy Shifts and Early Impact | Allen Gindler url:https://blog.independent.org/2025/03/10/trump-economic-outlook-policy-shifts-impact/
March 12, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Reposted by Edgar Castro
mclem.org
In 15 years on social media I almost never ask my followers to do anything.

If you live in the United States, please stop now & call your representative. I just called. They answer and listen.

The phone numbers are here: www.usa.gov/elected-offi...

Demand action to stop this authoritarian threat:
March 4, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Reposted by Edgar Castro
havoc147.bsky.social
Illegal protests? He is dying to impose Martial Law.
March 4, 2025 at 1:20 PM
edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
Valuable teachings that people these days need to remember. For 200 years, economists have been defending free trade.

#tariffs

youtu.be/urSe86zpLI4?...
Milton Friedman - Free Trade Vs Protectionism
YouTube video by LibertyPen
youtu.be
February 3, 2025 at 2:21 PM
edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
MAGA schizophrenia hits new heights: advocating for isolationism while also pushing to conquer Canada, Greenland, and Panama.
February 3, 2025 at 10:29 AM
edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
Happy New Year! 🎉 2024 was amazing, thanks to my incredible students and the warm welcome I’ve received in Korea.
I wish you all growth and new adventures in 2025!
January 1, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Reposted by Edgar Castro
hechingerreport.org
‘I can tell you don’t agree with me’: Colleges teach kids how to hear differing opinions
Colleges teach kids how to hear differing opinions - The Hechinger Report
The Bridging the Gap program in Kentucky, which works to close political, racial and religious divides, seems both more urgent, and under threat, after a divisive presidential election.
buff.ly
December 4, 2024 at 4:39 PM
edgarcastroecon.bsky.social
Secretary of State Camacho
December 4, 2024 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by Edgar Castro
projectliberal.org
But I reject the arrogant and scornful theory by which they would limit migratory rights, or any other essential human rights to themselves, and which would make them the owners of this great continent to the exclusion of all other races of men.

— Frederick Douglass
December 4, 2024 at 4:00 PM
Reposted by Edgar Castro
antonhur.com
I guarantee you that in the following weeks, beginning tomorrow but especially this weekend, Gwanghwamun Plaza (site of protest since at least the Joseon Dynasty times) is going to be deluged with protesters. bsky.app/profile/anto...
antonhur.com Anton Hur @antonhur.com · Dec 3
SEE YOU IN GWANGHWAMUN ✊🏼💜
December 3, 2024 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by Edgar Castro
michaelhobbes.bsky.social
Evidence has demonstrated this effect in numerous cities now.

I understand why it sounds weird to say, 'building a bunch of fancy new townhouses and skyscrapers will make housing more affordable!' but it simply appears to be true.
smith.senate.gov Tina Smith @smith.senate.gov · Dec 3
So proud of the great work happening in Minneapolis, which shows that boosting housing supply helps make homes more affordable.
December 3, 2024 at 3:15 PM
Reposted by Edgar Castro
florianederer.bsky.social
Donald Trump, accidental master of game theory

Martin Sandbu argues in the FT that Trump is exploiting strategic randomness (opacity). And Sandbu’s advice for the rest of the world is essentially to self-insure ...

... just like in our RAND paper.
www.jstor.org/stable/45147...
December 2, 2024 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Edgar Castro
bakerdphd.bsky.social
I will be following this because it is such a useful example for my students of what not to do (allegedly)

stanforddaily.com/2024/12/02/j...
Stanford misinformation expert accused of using AI to fabricate court statement
Communications professor Jeff Hancock cited two nonexistent sources in a recent court declaration against political deepfakes. Plaintiffs believe Hancock used AI tools that “hallucinated” the sources.
stanforddaily.com
December 2, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Reposted by Edgar Castro
projectliberal.org
Liberals believe in defending other liberal democracies.
November 19, 2024 at 4:00 PM