Josh Budlender
@joshbudlender.bsky.social
Postdoc at SALDRU, University of Cape Town: Labour & Development Economics.
Firms and wages and structural transformation; programme evaluation; a bit of econ history & social policy.
And some 🇿🇦 politics :)
https://www.joshbudlender.co.za
Firms and wages and structural transformation; programme evaluation; a bit of econ history & social policy.
And some 🇿🇦 politics :)
https://www.joshbudlender.co.za
Reposted by Josh Budlender
Join us at UCT for our 2-day December Workshop co-hosted with ERSA, discussing frontier research in applied economics for developing countries!
2 keynotes: Taryn Dinkelman & Joseph Kaboski.
12 presenters from 7 international & 4 local universities, & PhD student panels.
2 keynotes: Taryn Dinkelman & Joseph Kaboski.
12 presenters from 7 international & 4 local universities, & PhD student panels.
October 27, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Join us at UCT for our 2-day December Workshop co-hosted with ERSA, discussing frontier research in applied economics for developing countries!
2 keynotes: Taryn Dinkelman & Joseph Kaboski.
12 presenters from 7 international & 4 local universities, & PhD student panels.
2 keynotes: Taryn Dinkelman & Joseph Kaboski.
12 presenters from 7 international & 4 local universities, & PhD student panels.
Reposted by Josh Budlender
Last day to submit! Get your papers in!
[DEADLINE EXTENSION]: SALDRU-ERSA DECEMBER WORKSHOP
We're excited to announce that you still have time to submit your papers to our December Workshop, hosted with Economic Research South Africa! We've extended the submission deadline to 12 September!
For more info: econrsa.org/events/the-e...
We're excited to announce that you still have time to submit your papers to our December Workshop, hosted with Economic Research South Africa! We've extended the submission deadline to 12 September!
For more info: econrsa.org/events/the-e...
September 12, 2025 at 7:25 AM
Last day to submit! Get your papers in!
Really excellent short interview on ABC about the SA Expropriation Act and claims of "white genocide" with Prof. Ruth Hall (@ruthhallplaas.bsky.social), acting director of South Africa's leading agrarian studies research unit, @plaasuwc.bsky.social.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6__b...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6__b...
Trump administration faces criticism for prioritizing white South African refugees
YouTube video by ABC News
www.youtube.com
May 16, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Really excellent short interview on ABC about the SA Expropriation Act and claims of "white genocide" with Prof. Ruth Hall (@ruthhallplaas.bsky.social), acting director of South Africa's leading agrarian studies research unit, @plaasuwc.bsky.social.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6__b...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6__b...
Notable how vast majority of SA knows this Afrikaner ethnic persecution/refugee thing is such obvious bullshit--literally made-up--that it's not even worth engaging with. You can't refute baldfaced fantasy with facts etc. But wonder if it makes reality less clear to rest of world
May 13, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Notable how vast majority of SA knows this Afrikaner ethnic persecution/refugee thing is such obvious bullshit--literally made-up--that it's not even worth engaging with. You can't refute baldfaced fantasy with facts etc. But wonder if it makes reality less clear to rest of world
Spoke with first prospective South African PhD student today who was planning on doing his PhD in the US, but now feels he cannot commit to something so long in such an unpredictable & potentially oppressive environment. There will be more.
March 31, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Spoke with first prospective South African PhD student today who was planning on doing his PhD in the US, but now feels he cannot commit to something so long in such an unpredictable & potentially oppressive environment. There will be more.
Reposted by Josh Budlender
I know the right wing media finds it all very difficult so, in an attempt to be helpful, this is what an actual interference with free speech looks like.
March 30, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I know the right wing media finds it all very difficult so, in an attempt to be helpful, this is what an actual interference with free speech looks like.
Reposted by Josh Budlender
Unidentified men grabbing someone off the street and putting her in a car because she wrote an op-Ed. This as flatly authoritarian as anything we’ve seen in this country in a very long time.
Video of the international student at Tufts being arrested by "federal authorities" in Massachusetts has been released and it's terrifying.
They're not even uniformed officers. Just secret police thugs in hoodies and masks.
From WCVB: youtu.be/PuFIs7OkzYY
They're not even uniformed officers. Just secret police thugs in hoodies and masks.
From WCVB: youtu.be/PuFIs7OkzYY
March 26, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Unidentified men grabbing someone off the street and putting her in a car because she wrote an op-Ed. This as flatly authoritarian as anything we’ve seen in this country in a very long time.
Reposted by Josh Budlender
Like, seriously???
March 24, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Like, seriously???
Reposted by Josh Budlender
Reading this appalling story, I don't see how anyone can in good conscience send their kids to Columbia -- not even as a political statement, but from a basic "will they take care of my kid?" standpoint...
A 21-year-old Columbia University student who has lived in the United States since she was a child sued President Trump and other high-ranking administration officials on Monday after immigration officials tried to arrest and deport her.
Yunseo Chung participated in a Barnard sit-in this month.
Yunseo Chung participated in a Barnard sit-in this month.
Columbia Student Hunted by ICE Sues to Prevent Deportation (Gift Article)
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 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Reading this appalling story, I don't see how anyone can in good conscience send their kids to Columbia -- not even as a political statement, but from a basic "will they take care of my kid?" standpoint...
Reposted by Josh Budlender
📢 SALDRU is proud to host the "South Africa at 30 Years of Democracy" conference at UCT! 🇿🇦🎉 A deep dive into our progress since 1994 & pathways for the future.
📅 Funded by AFD and the EU Commission, supported by the Presidency, Treasury ZA & NPC.
#SA30 #Democracy #Research
📅 Funded by AFD and the EU Commission, supported by the Presidency, Treasury ZA & NPC.
#SA30 #Democracy #Research
March 20, 2025 at 9:08 AM
📢 SALDRU is proud to host the "South Africa at 30 Years of Democracy" conference at UCT! 🇿🇦🎉 A deep dive into our progress since 1994 & pathways for the future.
📅 Funded by AFD and the EU Commission, supported by the Presidency, Treasury ZA & NPC.
#SA30 #Democracy #Research
📅 Funded by AFD and the EU Commission, supported by the Presidency, Treasury ZA & NPC.
#SA30 #Democracy #Research
Reposted by Josh Budlender
Hello, Bluesky #EconSky! We're the Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit (SALDRU) at UCT, dedicated to challenging inequalities through policy-relevant academic research. We are one of the leading Labour & Development #Economics units on the continent. Explore our work: saldru.uct.ac.za
March 18, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Hello, Bluesky #EconSky! We're the Southern Africa Labour & Development Research Unit (SALDRU) at UCT, dedicated to challenging inequalities through policy-relevant academic research. We are one of the leading Labour & Development #Economics units on the continent. Explore our work: saldru.uct.ac.za
Reposted by Josh Budlender
The Wuhan lab is STILL doing unsafe research that could trigger a pandemic AND getting prestigious pubs as incentive.😫
To fix this for the future, we have to admit we were deliberately misled on the possibility of a lab leak in the past. Horrid but true.
Gift link
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/o...
To fix this for the future, we have to admit we were deliberately misled on the possibility of a lab leak in the past. Horrid but true.
Gift link
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/o...
March 16, 2025 at 12:23 PM
The Wuhan lab is STILL doing unsafe research that could trigger a pandemic AND getting prestigious pubs as incentive.😫
To fix this for the future, we have to admit we were deliberately misled on the possibility of a lab leak in the past. Horrid but true.
Gift link
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/o...
To fix this for the future, we have to admit we were deliberately misled on the possibility of a lab leak in the past. Horrid but true.
Gift link
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/o...
Reposted by Josh Budlender
"Aligned to" is a way of saying that they have no proof that he provided anything that could be legally construed as material support to Hamas, or showed allegiance to Hamas in any way, but he said some things they decided are vaguely in alignment with Hamas and they're imprisoning him for it.
DHS cites Trump’s executive orders and then makes the absolutely meaningless statement that “Khalil led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization,” as a justification for the arrest.
March 10, 2025 at 5:28 AM
"Aligned to" is a way of saying that they have no proof that he provided anything that could be legally construed as material support to Hamas, or showed allegiance to Hamas in any way, but he said some things they decided are vaguely in alignment with Hamas and they're imprisoning him for it.
Reposted by Josh Budlender
UPDATE — Secretary of State Marco Rubio has now commented on the Trump admin’s detaining & attempted green card revocation of a Columbia Gaza encampment student negotiator:
“We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.”
“We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.”
NEWS: Last night, the Department of Homeland Security detained a Palestinian who helped lead the Columbia encampment.
Agents told him his visa was revoked. He said he had a green card. They were confused—then said that was revoked too.
His attorney demanded a warrant. Agents hung up instead.
Agents told him his visa was revoked. He said he had a green card. They were confused—then said that was revoked too.
His attorney demanded a warrant. Agents hung up instead.
BREAKING: DHS Detains Palestinian Student from Columbia Encampment, Says Advocates
Agents told him his student visa was revoked. But he had a green card. Agents then said that was revoked too.
zeteo.com
March 9, 2025 at 10:44 PM
UPDATE — Secretary of State Marco Rubio has now commented on the Trump admin’s detaining & attempted green card revocation of a Columbia Gaza encampment student negotiator:
“We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.”
“We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported.”
Chotiner + Will Shoki combo as excellent as one would expect.
Seriously, if you’re not a South African and only read one article about the Trump/Musk demands vs the reality of SA today, this is the piece. And an excellent discussion for SAns too!
www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
Seriously, if you’re not a South African and only read one article about the Trump/Musk demands vs the reality of SA today, this is the piece. And an excellent discussion for SAns too!
www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
Make South Africa Great Again?
How the country’s post-apartheid politics may inform the world view of Elon Musk and Donald Trump.
www.newyorker.com
February 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Chotiner + Will Shoki combo as excellent as one would expect.
Seriously, if you’re not a South African and only read one article about the Trump/Musk demands vs the reality of SA today, this is the piece. And an excellent discussion for SAns too!
www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
Seriously, if you’re not a South African and only read one article about the Trump/Musk demands vs the reality of SA today, this is the piece. And an excellent discussion for SAns too!
www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
A good piece. This the flipside of Trump's maximalism, based on completely fabricated "facts" -- he actually makes it impossible for countries to comply, even if they wanted to.
www.news24.com/fin24/opinio...
www.news24.com/fin24/opinio...
Carol Paton | Rush to Washington a fool's errand as Trump sets impossible demands | Business
Trump has set demands that an ANC-led government could not possibly meet. Now is not the time to try to "explain" SA's position, writes Carol Paton.
www.news24.com
February 12, 2025 at 11:18 AM
A good piece. This the flipside of Trump's maximalism, based on completely fabricated "facts" -- he actually makes it impossible for countries to comply, even if they wanted to.
www.news24.com/fin24/opinio...
www.news24.com/fin24/opinio...
So obvious that it feels absurd to even engage with this, but some statistics re the extreme economic position of white South Africans, in one of the most unequal countries in the world:
February 8, 2025 at 11:05 AM
So obvious that it feels absurd to even engage with this, but some statistics re the extreme economic position of white South Africans, in one of the most unequal countries in the world:
Also, as someone who worked a bit with real asylum seekers in the US. If white Afrikaners wanna know real persecution? Go try navigate that dehumanising & punitive system. Even if treated preferentially, that will be far worse discrimination than Afrikaners ever experience in SA.
February 8, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Also, as someone who worked a bit with real asylum seekers in the US. If white Afrikaners wanna know real persecution? Go try navigate that dehumanising & punitive system. Even if treated preferentially, that will be far worse discrimination than Afrikaners ever experience in SA.
That Trump executive order re South Africa is absolutely insane. Just straight up deluded racist myth. So unmoored from reality that it would be impossible for SA to “remedy” these accusations even if we were inclined to do so.
February 8, 2025 at 8:28 AM
That Trump executive order re South Africa is absolutely insane. Just straight up deluded racist myth. So unmoored from reality that it would be impossible for SA to “remedy” these accusations even if we were inclined to do so.
Reposted by Josh Budlender
The Race and Stratification Working Group at NBER will have its annual meeting on Friday, April 4, 2025! Dania Francis, Vicki Bogan, Ellora Derenoncourt and I are organizing the program. Submit your paper before the December 19, 2024 deadline! conference.nber.org/confsubmit/b...
Submission: Race and Stratification Working Group, Page 1 of 2 - MyNBERNBER: National Bureau of Economic Research
conference.nber.org
December 2, 2024 at 3:37 PM
The Race and Stratification Working Group at NBER will have its annual meeting on Friday, April 4, 2025! Dania Francis, Vicki Bogan, Ellora Derenoncourt and I are organizing the program. Submit your paper before the December 19, 2024 deadline! conference.nber.org/confsubmit/b...
Come attend the 2024 SALDRU December Workshop!
12-13 December, School of Economics, U of Cape Town.
We've got a great list of speakers, and v pleased the keynote will be Dennis Egger (@eggerdennis.bsky.social) presenting "Slack & Economic Development".
All welcome! RSVP: forms.gle/cwdPjw7iEjqa...
12-13 December, School of Economics, U of Cape Town.
We've got a great list of speakers, and v pleased the keynote will be Dennis Egger (@eggerdennis.bsky.social) presenting "Slack & Economic Development".
All welcome! RSVP: forms.gle/cwdPjw7iEjqa...
November 29, 2024 at 8:33 AM
Come attend the 2024 SALDRU December Workshop!
12-13 December, School of Economics, U of Cape Town.
We've got a great list of speakers, and v pleased the keynote will be Dennis Egger (@eggerdennis.bsky.social) presenting "Slack & Economic Development".
All welcome! RSVP: forms.gle/cwdPjw7iEjqa...
12-13 December, School of Economics, U of Cape Town.
We've got a great list of speakers, and v pleased the keynote will be Dennis Egger (@eggerdennis.bsky.social) presenting "Slack & Economic Development".
All welcome! RSVP: forms.gle/cwdPjw7iEjqa...
More devastating reporting from Kimon on Stilfontein and the workings of these zama zama (illegal mining) operations groundup.org.za/article/trap...
The violent underworld of Stilfontein’s zama zamas
South Africa’s illicit gold trade is lucrative and controlled by gangs
groundup.org.za
November 28, 2024 at 9:32 PM
More devastating reporting from Kimon on Stilfontein and the workings of these zama zama (illegal mining) operations groundup.org.za/article/trap...
Reposted by Josh Budlender
Investigation into social grant fraud is a flop
SASSA investigation into SRD grant application system fails to answer crucial questions
Read groundup.org.za/article/inve... by Nathan Geffen
SASSA investigation into SRD grant application system fails to answer crucial questions
Read groundup.org.za/article/inve... by Nathan Geffen
Investigation into social grant fraud is a flop
SASSA investigation into SRD grant application system fails to answer crucial questions
groundup.org.za
November 27, 2024 at 10:45 AM
Investigation into social grant fraud is a flop
SASSA investigation into SRD grant application system fails to answer crucial questions
Read groundup.org.za/article/inve... by Nathan Geffen
SASSA investigation into SRD grant application system fails to answer crucial questions
Read groundup.org.za/article/inve... by Nathan Geffen
Reposted by Josh Budlender
Two postdoc opportunities on industrial policy at Columbia:
1. Center for Political Economy's Firms & Industrial Policy Idea Lab: cwp.submittable.com/submit/30347... Deadine: Dec 2.
2. Initiative for Policy Dialogue: www.aeaweb.org/joe/listing....
Official deadline today (11/25)!
Please spread word.
1. Center for Political Economy's Firms & Industrial Policy Idea Lab: cwp.submittable.com/submit/30347... Deadine: Dec 2.
2. Initiative for Policy Dialogue: www.aeaweb.org/joe/listing....
Official deadline today (11/25)!
Please spread word.
Columbia Global - 2025-26 Center for Political Economy Postdoctoral Research Scholar Opportunity
Position Summary
The Columbia Center for Political Economy is seeking full-time Postdoctoral Research Scholars beginning July 1, 2025. Under the direction of the Center’s faculty Co-directors and Ide...
cwp.submittable.com
November 25, 2024 at 8:43 PM
Two postdoc opportunities on industrial policy at Columbia:
1. Center for Political Economy's Firms & Industrial Policy Idea Lab: cwp.submittable.com/submit/30347... Deadine: Dec 2.
2. Initiative for Policy Dialogue: www.aeaweb.org/joe/listing....
Official deadline today (11/25)!
Please spread word.
1. Center for Political Economy's Firms & Industrial Policy Idea Lab: cwp.submittable.com/submit/30347... Deadine: Dec 2.
2. Initiative for Policy Dialogue: www.aeaweb.org/joe/listing....
Official deadline today (11/25)!
Please spread word.