Lauren Gilbert
@lgilbert.co
researcher, writer, projects georg. currently: geoquant; writer, laurenpolicy.com. formerly: open phil, renphil, qi, ucsd, caltech, etc.
The UK has high visa fees to deter migration.
I argue that they are likely *not* to deter people from low-income countries but may deter people from high income countries & the people with the highest labor income: www.laurenpolicy.com/p/the-case-a...
I argue that they are likely *not* to deter people from low-income countries but may deter people from high income countries & the people with the highest labor income: www.laurenpolicy.com/p/the-case-a...
The Case Against UK Visa Fees (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying About Cross-Subsidization And Love Outside Options)
Merry Christmas!
www.laurenpolicy.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM
The UK has high visa fees to deter migration.
I argue that they are likely *not* to deter people from low-income countries but may deter people from high income countries & the people with the highest labor income: www.laurenpolicy.com/p/the-case-a...
I argue that they are likely *not* to deter people from low-income countries but may deter people from high income countries & the people with the highest labor income: www.laurenpolicy.com/p/the-case-a...
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
Some good news in this:
* very effective anti-malaria drug!
* non-opioid painkiller!
* gonorrhea vaccine!
and more
* very effective anti-malaria drug!
* non-opioid painkiller!
* gonorrhea vaccine!
and more
@gleech.org, @ulkar.bsky.social and I put together a database of some of the "big if true" scientific results of 2025: frontier2025.netlify.app
The Frontier in 2025
frontier2025.netlify.app
December 17, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Some good news in this:
* very effective anti-malaria drug!
* non-opioid painkiller!
* gonorrhea vaccine!
and more
* very effective anti-malaria drug!
* non-opioid painkiller!
* gonorrhea vaccine!
and more
@gleech.org, @ulkar.bsky.social and I put together a database of some of the "big if true" scientific results of 2025: frontier2025.netlify.app
The Frontier in 2025
frontier2025.netlify.app
December 17, 2025 at 10:21 PM
@gleech.org, @ulkar.bsky.social and I put together a database of some of the "big if true" scientific results of 2025: frontier2025.netlify.app
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
Riding down 101, looking at all the one- and two-story sprawl.
Once again, feeling radicalized.
Forget one billion Americans, I want 100 million Californians.
Once again, feeling radicalized.
Forget one billion Americans, I want 100 million Californians.
December 17, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Riding down 101, looking at all the one- and two-story sprawl.
Once again, feeling radicalized.
Forget one billion Americans, I want 100 million Californians.
Once again, feeling radicalized.
Forget one billion Americans, I want 100 million Californians.
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
The Migration Advisory Committee has published its annual report today
They have supplemented their earlier analysis of the fiscal impact of migrants on skilled work and health/care visas with those on family visas.
Full results below:
www.gov.uk/government/p...
They have supplemented their earlier analysis of the fiscal impact of migrants on skilled work and health/care visas with those on family visas.
Full results below:
www.gov.uk/government/p...
December 17, 2025 at 6:39 PM
The Migration Advisory Committee has published its annual report today
They have supplemented their earlier analysis of the fiscal impact of migrants on skilled work and health/care visas with those on family visas.
Full results below:
www.gov.uk/government/p...
They have supplemented their earlier analysis of the fiscal impact of migrants on skilled work and health/care visas with those on family visas.
Full results below:
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
December 16, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
🚨 Applications are open for the 2026–27 Good Authority Fellowship! 🚨
Political scientists passionate about public engagement will receive a $2,500 stipend and mentorship in writing for broad audiences.
Apply by Jan 9, 2026, 5pm PT.
Apply at the link👇
goodauthority.org/news/announc...
Political scientists passionate about public engagement will receive a $2,500 stipend and mentorship in writing for broad audiences.
Apply by Jan 9, 2026, 5pm PT.
Apply at the link👇
goodauthority.org/news/announc...
Announcing the 2026-2027 Good Authority fellows program!
Apply by Jan. 9, 2026 to join the Good Authority team of contributors.
goodauthority.org
December 4, 2025 at 5:46 PM
🚨 Applications are open for the 2026–27 Good Authority Fellowship! 🚨
Political scientists passionate about public engagement will receive a $2,500 stipend and mentorship in writing for broad audiences.
Apply by Jan 9, 2026, 5pm PT.
Apply at the link👇
goodauthority.org/news/announc...
Political scientists passionate about public engagement will receive a $2,500 stipend and mentorship in writing for broad audiences.
Apply by Jan 9, 2026, 5pm PT.
Apply at the link👇
goodauthority.org/news/announc...
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
And the results are in! After carefully reviewing the results of a national poll the Board of Directors of the Society for Canadian English (SCE) has determined that this year’s Canadian Word of the Year (CWOTY), the first of its kind, will be “maplewashing.”
December 13, 2025 at 12:50 AM
And the results are in! After carefully reviewing the results of a national poll the Board of Directors of the Society for Canadian English (SCE) has determined that this year’s Canadian Word of the Year (CWOTY), the first of its kind, will be “maplewashing.”
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
"We're interested in comparative or historical insights...about how something works or fails to work in the developing world."
My fellow comparativists and historical political economists: this is your time to shine! Write <4K words to tell the world about your nerdy topic and make $2K.
My fellow comparativists and historical political economists: this is your time to shine! Write <4K words to tell the world about your nerdy topic and make $2K.
In Development's first call for pitches is up! .
Tell us a compelling story about how something works — or fails to work — in the developing world. 2k-4k words, rolling review through Jan. 12
indevelopmentmag.substack.com/p/call-for-p...
Tell us a compelling story about how something works — or fails to work — in the developing world. 2k-4k words, rolling review through Jan. 12
indevelopmentmag.substack.com/p/call-for-p...
Call for Pitches: In Development Issue 1
Word count: 2,000-4,000 words
indevelopmentmag.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:36 PM
"We're interested in comparative or historical insights...about how something works or fails to work in the developing world."
My fellow comparativists and historical political economists: this is your time to shine! Write <4K words to tell the world about your nerdy topic and make $2K.
My fellow comparativists and historical political economists: this is your time to shine! Write <4K words to tell the world about your nerdy topic and make $2K.
In Development's first call for pitches is up! .
Tell us a compelling story about how something works — or fails to work — in the developing world. 2k-4k words, rolling review through Jan. 12
indevelopmentmag.substack.com/p/call-for-p...
Tell us a compelling story about how something works — or fails to work — in the developing world. 2k-4k words, rolling review through Jan. 12
indevelopmentmag.substack.com/p/call-for-p...
Call for Pitches: In Development Issue 1
Word count: 2,000-4,000 words
indevelopmentmag.substack.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:28 AM
In Development's first call for pitches is up! .
Tell us a compelling story about how something works — or fails to work — in the developing world. 2k-4k words, rolling review through Jan. 12
indevelopmentmag.substack.com/p/call-for-p...
Tell us a compelling story about how something works — or fails to work — in the developing world. 2k-4k words, rolling review through Jan. 12
indevelopmentmag.substack.com/p/call-for-p...
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
"If growth was actually your priority, you would not be doing this."
(Me, stating the obvious)
www.ft.com/content/2b60...
(Me, stating the obvious)
www.ft.com/content/2b60...
Tighter visa rules will cost UK up to £10.8bn
Home Office assessment shows impact of latest changes to immigration regime over next five years
www.ft.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
"If growth was actually your priority, you would not be doing this."
(Me, stating the obvious)
www.ft.com/content/2b60...
(Me, stating the obvious)
www.ft.com/content/2b60...
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
"Incidentally, in the 1960s and 1970s, when net migration was running at minus 50,000 a year, more than 85% of Britons still thought immigration was too high."
Last week's New World column ocncerned immigration to the UK.
Last week's New World column ocncerned immigration to the UK.
Nerd's Eye View: 11 things you need to know about immigration
Digging into the detail and data to separate the noise from the news
www.thenewworld.co.uk
December 8, 2025 at 11:36 AM
"Incidentally, in the 1960s and 1970s, when net migration was running at minus 50,000 a year, more than 85% of Britons still thought immigration was too high."
Last week's New World column ocncerned immigration to the UK.
Last week's New World column ocncerned immigration to the UK.
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
Want to be an intern at Microsoft Research in the Computational Social Science group in NYC (Jake Hofman, David Rothschild, Dan Goldstein)
Follow this link and do your thing! Deadline approaching soonish!
apply.careers.microsoft.com/careers/job/...
Follow this link and do your thing! Deadline approaching soonish!
apply.careers.microsoft.com/careers/job/...
Research Intern - Computational Social Science | Microsoft Careers
Research Interns put inquiry and theory into practice. Alongside fellow doctoral candidates and some of the world's best researchers, Research Interns learn, collaborate, and network for life. Researc...
apply.careers.microsoft.com
December 5, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Want to be an intern at Microsoft Research in the Computational Social Science group in NYC (Jake Hofman, David Rothschild, Dan Goldstein)
Follow this link and do your thing! Deadline approaching soonish!
apply.careers.microsoft.com/careers/job/...
Follow this link and do your thing! Deadline approaching soonish!
apply.careers.microsoft.com/careers/job/...
I was on LBC this morning to discuss the fiscal impacts of lower migration and what net zero migration would mean: www.globalplayer.com/catchup/lbc/...
Matthew Wright | Global Player
Listen to Matthew Wright for free on Global Player.
www.globalplayer.com
December 6, 2025 at 10:27 AM
I was on LBC this morning to discuss the fiscal impacts of lower migration and what net zero migration would mean: www.globalplayer.com/catchup/lbc/...
I've written a lot on the fiscal effects of immigration. But what if just looking at the fiscal effects misses one of the most important effects of immigration?
New Substack post on immigration and innovation: www.laurenpolicy.com/p/immigratio...
New Substack post on immigration and innovation: www.laurenpolicy.com/p/immigratio...
Immigration and Innovation
Generally, the arguments around migration tend to center on its direct effects.
www.laurenpolicy.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:02 AM
I've written a lot on the fiscal effects of immigration. But what if just looking at the fiscal effects misses one of the most important effects of immigration?
New Substack post on immigration and innovation: www.laurenpolicy.com/p/immigratio...
New Substack post on immigration and innovation: www.laurenpolicy.com/p/immigratio...
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
Who likes public transit gear? Over Thanksgiving I made a list of 24 stores for local and regional transit agencies around the world and speedran a rubric-based ranking. Hope you enjoy! occasionalurbanism.wordpress.com/2025/11/29/t...
November 30, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Who likes public transit gear? Over Thanksgiving I made a list of 24 stores for local and regional transit agencies around the world and speedran a rubric-based ranking. Hope you enjoy! occasionalurbanism.wordpress.com/2025/11/29/t...
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
Speaking of Berlin, I discovered this Horror recently.
A ladder of short parallel streets, connectiong Meteor street to Northern Lights street. The streets are called, in order, going Northward:
East
Mercury
Venus
Saturn (!)
Mars (!!)
Jupyter
West
Uranus
Why?? What sort of Borgean list is it?
A ladder of short parallel streets, connectiong Meteor street to Northern Lights street. The streets are called, in order, going Northward:
East
Mercury
Venus
Saturn (!)
Mars (!!)
Jupyter
West
Uranus
Why?? What sort of Borgean list is it?
November 24, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Speaking of Berlin, I discovered this Horror recently.
A ladder of short parallel streets, connectiong Meteor street to Northern Lights street. The streets are called, in order, going Northward:
East
Mercury
Venus
Saturn (!)
Mars (!!)
Jupyter
West
Uranus
Why?? What sort of Borgean list is it?
A ladder of short parallel streets, connectiong Meteor street to Northern Lights street. The streets are called, in order, going Northward:
East
Mercury
Venus
Saturn (!)
Mars (!!)
Jupyter
West
Uranus
Why?? What sort of Borgean list is it?
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
📉 Yesterday's ONS stats revealed a significant drop in net migration
✍️ Lauren Gilbert argues that lower migration is bad news for the UK economy since most immigrants are already net fiscal contributors
Read in full 👇
https://ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migration-is-bad-news-for-the-uk-economy/
✍️ Lauren Gilbert argues that lower migration is bad news for the UK economy since most immigrants are already net fiscal contributors
Read in full 👇
https://ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migration-is-bad-news-for-the-uk-economy/
Lower migration is bad news for the UK economy - UK in a changing Europe
Lauren Gilbert argues that migrants to the UK are net fiscal contributors, adding much more to the economy than they take out, and that the recent collapse in immigration will harm the UK's economic prospects.
ukandeu.ac.uk
November 28, 2025 at 4:45 PM
📉 Yesterday's ONS stats revealed a significant drop in net migration
✍️ Lauren Gilbert argues that lower migration is bad news for the UK economy since most immigrants are already net fiscal contributors
Read in full 👇
https://ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migration-is-bad-news-for-the-uk-economy/
✍️ Lauren Gilbert argues that lower migration is bad news for the UK economy since most immigrants are already net fiscal contributors
Read in full 👇
https://ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migration-is-bad-news-for-the-uk-economy/
my migration policy substack has a gift guide, as you do: www.laurenpolicy.com/p/the-2025-l...
The 2025 Lauren Policy Gift Guide
Why does your migration literature review blog have a gift guide? Because I can.
www.laurenpolicy.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:45 PM
my migration policy substack has a gift guide, as you do: www.laurenpolicy.com/p/the-2025-l...
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
I've put some details in here. NB since this was written it's become clear that my figures are an overestimate because of:
1. More UK nationals emigrating than realised.
2. Work visa applications falling faster than expected.
3. The ILR policy being much harsher.
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
1. More UK nationals emigrating than realised.
2. Work visa applications falling faster than expected.
3. The ILR policy being much harsher.
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
The coming collapse in immigration to the United Kingdom - UK in a changing Europe
James Bowes analyses the fall in net migration to the UK as a result of government policies and explores some of the political and economic consequences.
ukandeu.ac.uk
November 27, 2025 at 5:17 PM
I've put some details in here. NB since this was written it's become clear that my figures are an overestimate because of:
1. More UK nationals emigrating than realised.
2. Work visa applications falling faster than expected.
3. The ILR policy being much harsher.
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
1. More UK nationals emigrating than realised.
2. Work visa applications falling faster than expected.
3. The ILR policy being much harsher.
ukandeu.ac.uk/the-coming-c...
Net migration down 69% YoY. Do we think this will dent Reform's poll numbers at all? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Net migration to UK drops 69% year on year, ONS figures show
Figure of 204,000 in 12 months to June 2025 is lowest since 2021, statistics body says
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Net migration down 69% YoY. Do we think this will dent Reform's poll numbers at all? www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
Net migration to the UK has fallen fast - down by more than 60% from the peak -and is set to fall further.
"Good news" politically? Maybe. But likely bad news for the economy and public finances.. (1/3)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"Good news" politically? Maybe. But likely bad news for the economy and public finances.. (1/3)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK net migration dropped more than first reported, ONS says
Net migration to the UK last year was 20% lower than previously thought.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Net migration to the UK has fallen fast - down by more than 60% from the peak -and is set to fall further.
"Good news" politically? Maybe. But likely bad news for the economy and public finances.. (1/3)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"Good news" politically? Maybe. But likely bad news for the economy and public finances.. (1/3)
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
And this from @lgilbert.co explains why these reductions will damage the public finances (3/3)
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
Lower migration is bad news for the UK economy - UK in a changing Europe
Lauren Gilbert argues that migrants to the UK are net fiscal contributors, adding much more to the economy than they take out, and that the recent collapse in immigration will harm the UK's economic p...
ukandeu.ac.uk
November 18, 2025 at 12:32 PM
And this from @lgilbert.co explains why these reductions will damage the public finances (3/3)
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
Reposted by Lauren Gilbert
"Migrants are also likely to be net fiscal contributors. Far from draining our welfare system, migrants are supporting the British state’s solvency."
While @lgilbert.co also argues that a collapse in immigration will harm the UK’s economic prospects
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
While @lgilbert.co also argues that a collapse in immigration will harm the UK’s economic prospects
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
Lower migration is bad news for the UK economy - UK in a changing Europe
Lauren Gilbert argues that migrants to the UK are net fiscal contributors, adding much more to the economy than they take out, and that the recent collapse in immigration will harm the UK's economic p...
ukandeu.ac.uk
November 17, 2025 at 10:47 AM
"Migrants are also likely to be net fiscal contributors. Far from draining our welfare system, migrants are supporting the British state’s solvency."
While @lgilbert.co also argues that a collapse in immigration will harm the UK’s economic prospects
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...
While @lgilbert.co also argues that a collapse in immigration will harm the UK’s economic prospects
ukandeu.ac.uk/lower-migrat...