Nominal News
@nominalnews.com
PhD Economist, Writer at Nominal News. Applying economic research to real issues.
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Nominal News
@nominalnews.com
· Nov 20
Here is a list of individuals that have a newsletter on substack talking about academic economic and finance research! If you want great, longer form content - this one is for you: go.bsky.app/LVtV86W
Concerns around country debt-to-GDP may be completely unfounded. If we look at other metrics such as debt-to-equity and interest-to-GDP, the data looks unremarkable*
*A short note by Berk and van Binsbergen
*A short note by Berk and van Binsbergen
January 5, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Concerns around country debt-to-GDP may be completely unfounded. If we look at other metrics such as debt-to-equity and interest-to-GDP, the data looks unremarkable*
*A short note by Berk and van Binsbergen
*A short note by Berk and van Binsbergen
Another example of using existing resources and policies to increase government outreach/efficiency.
In the spirit of the intervention by Blattman, Duncan, Lessing and Tobin (2023)
www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
In the spirit of the intervention by Blattman, Duncan, Lessing and Tobin (2023)
www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
Mamdani brings the campaign mobilization to City Hall
DSA organizer Tascha Van Auken will head the new Office of Mass Engagement to keep Mamdani’s unprecedented volunteer army engaged – and expand City Hall’s reach.
www.cityandstateny.com
January 2, 2026 at 6:54 PM
Another example of using existing resources and policies to increase government outreach/efficiency.
In the spirit of the intervention by Blattman, Duncan, Lessing and Tobin (2023)
www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
In the spirit of the intervention by Blattman, Duncan, Lessing and Tobin (2023)
www.cityandstateny.com/politics/202...
This paper analyzes the affirmative action policy in France at SciencesPo. The results suggest large gains to society and students that got accepted, with little to no cost for the university.
It also suggests that schooling is not just signalling, but upskilling.
It also suggests that schooling is not just signalling, but upskilling.
January 2, 2026 at 2:32 PM
This paper analyzes the affirmative action policy in France at SciencesPo. The results suggest large gains to society and students that got accepted, with little to no cost for the university.
It also suggests that schooling is not just signalling, but upskilling.
It also suggests that schooling is not just signalling, but upskilling.
If you want to stay up to date on policy relevant economic research, you can subscribe for free to our Nominal News Substack.
Below is our 2025 recap - inflation related research dominated but also topics like immigration and work requirements were popular.
www.nominalnews.com/p/nominal-ne...
Below is our 2025 recap - inflation related research dominated but also topics like immigration and work requirements were popular.
www.nominalnews.com/p/nominal-ne...
Nominal News – 2025 Recap
Happy New Year!
www.nominalnews.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:19 PM
If you want to stay up to date on policy relevant economic research, you can subscribe for free to our Nominal News Substack.
Below is our 2025 recap - inflation related research dominated but also topics like immigration and work requirements were popular.
www.nominalnews.com/p/nominal-ne...
Below is our 2025 recap - inflation related research dominated but also topics like immigration and work requirements were popular.
www.nominalnews.com/p/nominal-ne...
This is what AI "thinks" of Nominal News, my economics substack - can't complain, as that's what I've set out to achieve :D
December 30, 2025 at 5:34 AM
This is what AI "thinks" of Nominal News, my economics substack - can't complain, as that's what I've set out to achieve :D
Academic economists correct predictions for the US in 2025:
- Tariffs will increase inflation, reduce real wages, increase unemployment;
- Congestion pricing in NYC will reduce traffic and pollution with no negative impact on economic activity;
- Tariffs will increase inflation, reduce real wages, increase unemployment;
- Congestion pricing in NYC will reduce traffic and pollution with no negative impact on economic activity;
December 29, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Academic economists correct predictions for the US in 2025:
- Tariffs will increase inflation, reduce real wages, increase unemployment;
- Congestion pricing in NYC will reduce traffic and pollution with no negative impact on economic activity;
- Tariffs will increase inflation, reduce real wages, increase unemployment;
- Congestion pricing in NYC will reduce traffic and pollution with no negative impact on economic activity;
An employer putting in time and effort to reward employees is often reciprocated by workers with higher productivity.
For example, even giving a cash bonus in the form of an origami decoration (as in the image below) to workers resulted in higher worker productivity.
For example, even giving a cash bonus in the form of an origami decoration (as in the image below) to workers resulted in higher worker productivity.
December 28, 2025 at 7:07 PM
An employer putting in time and effort to reward employees is often reciprocated by workers with higher productivity.
For example, even giving a cash bonus in the form of an origami decoration (as in the image below) to workers resulted in higher worker productivity.
For example, even giving a cash bonus in the form of an origami decoration (as in the image below) to workers resulted in higher worker productivity.
It may seem surprising, but employers gifting an item appears more valued by employees than just a cash bonus.
Gifts in workplace settings appear to generate positive value.
Gifts in workplace settings appear to generate positive value.
December 27, 2025 at 1:42 AM
It may seem surprising, but employers gifting an item appears more valued by employees than just a cash bonus.
Gifts in workplace settings appear to generate positive value.
Gifts in workplace settings appear to generate positive value.
Every year, the 1993 Waldfogel paper is cited as proof that gifts are 'inefficient'. But repeated follow up research showed that gifts are valued above the cost of the gift. It also turns out workers respond to gifts better than just cash!
www.nominalnews.com/p/gifts-work...
www.nominalnews.com/p/gifts-work...
Gifts in the Workplace
Unlike many headlines suggesting gifts are inefficient, gifts from employers increase workers' productivity.
www.nominalnews.com
December 26, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Every year, the 1993 Waldfogel paper is cited as proof that gifts are 'inefficient'. But repeated follow up research showed that gifts are valued above the cost of the gift. It also turns out workers respond to gifts better than just cash!
www.nominalnews.com/p/gifts-work...
www.nominalnews.com/p/gifts-work...
Why 3% inflation today is different from 3% inflation a year ago - I’m a bit more concerned about current inflation than I was a year ago because of the following charts
Below is median wage growth reduced by the consumer price index absent shelter. The right chart shows the CPI absent shelter.
Below is median wage growth reduced by the consumer price index absent shelter. The right chart shows the CPI absent shelter.
December 18, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Why 3% inflation today is different from 3% inflation a year ago - I’m a bit more concerned about current inflation than I was a year ago because of the following charts
Below is median wage growth reduced by the consumer price index absent shelter. The right chart shows the CPI absent shelter.
Below is median wage growth reduced by the consumer price index absent shelter. The right chart shows the CPI absent shelter.
Not too bad! I've written 32 articles on economics research this year. The most popular were about inflation (mainly the NK model of it)
But also wrote about sports betting, immigration, free buses and tariffs. Credit to all the researchers and professors - thanks to their work, we learn new things
But also wrote about sports betting, immigration, free buses and tariffs. Credit to all the researchers and professors - thanks to their work, we learn new things
December 18, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Not too bad! I've written 32 articles on economics research this year. The most popular were about inflation (mainly the NK model of it)
But also wrote about sports betting, immigration, free buses and tariffs. Credit to all the researchers and professors - thanks to their work, we learn new things
But also wrote about sports betting, immigration, free buses and tariffs. Credit to all the researchers and professors - thanks to their work, we learn new things
Research shows that homeowners are likely to remain locked-in an area that is going through to an economic downturn.
This is a significant homeownership cost that is under-emphasized.
open.substack.com/pub/nominaln...
This is a significant homeownership cost that is under-emphasized.
open.substack.com/pub/nominaln...
Locked In: How Homeownership Limits Mobility
High house-wealth can unintentionally trap people in an area going through a downturn.
open.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Research shows that homeowners are likely to remain locked-in an area that is going through to an economic downturn.
This is a significant homeownership cost that is under-emphasized.
open.substack.com/pub/nominaln...
This is a significant homeownership cost that is under-emphasized.
open.substack.com/pub/nominaln...
Yeah - I don't think this will encourage good outcomes. Since people use savings/investments to gamble, that will make saving relatively less attractive.
December 11, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Yeah - I don't think this will encourage good outcomes. Since people use savings/investments to gamble, that will make saving relatively less attractive.
Sports betting comes with costs, as people use savings to fund it
However, it's important to note that gambling is a form of entertainment consumption, meaning the issue of gambling losses could be alleviated with solutions like prize linked savings accounts:
www.nominalnews.com/p/the-costly...
However, it's important to note that gambling is a form of entertainment consumption, meaning the issue of gambling losses could be alleviated with solutions like prize linked savings accounts:
www.nominalnews.com/p/the-costly...
The Costly Rise of Sports Betting
The meteoric rise in sports betting in the US comes at a cost – people are poorer.
www.nominalnews.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Sports betting comes with costs, as people use savings to fund it
However, it's important to note that gambling is a form of entertainment consumption, meaning the issue of gambling losses could be alleviated with solutions like prize linked savings accounts:
www.nominalnews.com/p/the-costly...
However, it's important to note that gambling is a form of entertainment consumption, meaning the issue of gambling losses could be alleviated with solutions like prize linked savings accounts:
www.nominalnews.com/p/the-costly...
The problem with this headline is that it sneaks in an incorrect assumption - Americans between 2020 to 2023 did get poorer. This is because transfer programs were cut. Real post tax/transfer incomes fell.
December 7, 2025 at 5:36 PM
The problem with this headline is that it sneaks in an incorrect assumption - Americans between 2020 to 2023 did get poorer. This is because transfer programs were cut. Real post tax/transfer incomes fell.
This shouldn't come as a surprise - not only did tariffs raise inflation and reduced efficiency, but it will also likely not raise the revenues they were expected too.
A big transfer from consumers to shareholders.
A big transfer from consumers to shareholders.
December 3, 2025 at 3:26 AM
This shouldn't come as a surprise - not only did tariffs raise inflation and reduced efficiency, but it will also likely not raise the revenues they were expected too.
A big transfer from consumers to shareholders.
A big transfer from consumers to shareholders.
Alternatives to Police - Do They Work?
This week we dove in to research by Blattman, Duncan, Lessing and Tobon (2024) which suggests that alternatives to policing do actually work - under certain conditions.
www.nominalnews.com/p/alternativ...
This week we dove in to research by Blattman, Duncan, Lessing and Tobon (2024) which suggests that alternatives to policing do actually work - under certain conditions.
www.nominalnews.com/p/alternativ...
Alternatives to Police - Do They Work?
Non-police solutions are often proposed to improve neighborhood security and welfare. But do they work?
www.nominalnews.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Alternatives to Police - Do They Work?
This week we dove in to research by Blattman, Duncan, Lessing and Tobon (2024) which suggests that alternatives to policing do actually work - under certain conditions.
www.nominalnews.com/p/alternativ...
This week we dove in to research by Blattman, Duncan, Lessing and Tobon (2024) which suggests that alternatives to policing do actually work - under certain conditions.
www.nominalnews.com/p/alternativ...
Update from Cavallo, Llamas and Vazquez. So far tariffs appear to have contributed around 0.7pp to CPI.
Yeah, that's not good.
Yeah, that's not good.
November 19, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Update from Cavallo, Llamas and Vazquez. So far tariffs appear to have contributed around 0.7pp to CPI.
Yeah, that's not good.
Yeah, that's not good.
The Louie, Mondragon and Wieland (2025) paper (along with two paper responses and an FAQ!) shows that supply constraints (zoning etc) cannot explain the observed house price differences.
What does? Income.
www.nominalnews.com/p/housing-an...
What does? Income.
www.nominalnews.com/p/housing-an...
Housing and Affordability – No Easy Solutions
A new paper on housing supply constraints suggests they do not matter for affordability.
www.nominalnews.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:43 PM
The Louie, Mondragon and Wieland (2025) paper (along with two paper responses and an FAQ!) shows that supply constraints (zoning etc) cannot explain the observed house price differences.
What does? Income.
www.nominalnews.com/p/housing-an...
What does? Income.
www.nominalnews.com/p/housing-an...
Is this admitting to the permanent limitations of the current genAI approach?
November 18, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Is this admitting to the permanent limitations of the current genAI approach?
LOL - right on cue, news media starts talking about gift giving
November 18, 2025 at 12:34 AM
LOL - right on cue, news media starts talking about gift giving
With holiday season around corner, we will start seeing news articles quoting economists that say ‘gift-giving is a negative value activity, and cash gifts are better’. Is it true?
No! - better research has shown that gift-giving, besides any social implications, generates a lot of value!
No! - better research has shown that gift-giving, besides any social implications, generates a lot of value!
November 17, 2025 at 5:29 PM
With holiday season around corner, we will start seeing news articles quoting economists that say ‘gift-giving is a negative value activity, and cash gifts are better’. Is it true?
No! - better research has shown that gift-giving, besides any social implications, generates a lot of value!
No! - better research has shown that gift-giving, besides any social implications, generates a lot of value!
You can always bring down inflation by slowing down the economy with interest rates. That’s why you may see ‘low inflation’ under tariffs.
Tariffs → inflation ticks up → Central Bank responds by raising rates → Unemployment ticks up → wages fall → inflation falls.
Tariffs → inflation ticks up → Central Bank responds by raising rates → Unemployment ticks up → wages fall → inflation falls.
November 17, 2025 at 3:26 PM
You can always bring down inflation by slowing down the economy with interest rates. That’s why you may see ‘low inflation’ under tariffs.
Tariffs → inflation ticks up → Central Bank responds by raising rates → Unemployment ticks up → wages fall → inflation falls.
Tariffs → inflation ticks up → Central Bank responds by raising rates → Unemployment ticks up → wages fall → inflation falls.
One of the weaknesses in economic modelling is that we often significantly underestimate the cost of enforcement of things.
This makes means-testing often a worthless, if not negative value, exercise.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-a-van-...
This makes means-testing often a worthless, if not negative value, exercise.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-a-van-...
November 11, 2025 at 3:58 AM
One of the weaknesses in economic modelling is that we often significantly underestimate the cost of enforcement of things.
This makes means-testing often a worthless, if not negative value, exercise.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-a-van-...
This makes means-testing often a worthless, if not negative value, exercise.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/how-a-van-...
Is the large spend on genAI research motivated by potentially becoming an AI monopoly? That would match the paper of the recent Nobel Prize in economics from Aghion+Howitt?
Can a firm even become an AI monopoly?
Can a firm even become an AI monopoly?
November 9, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Is the large spend on genAI research motivated by potentially becoming an AI monopoly? That would match the paper of the recent Nobel Prize in economics from Aghion+Howitt?
Can a firm even become an AI monopoly?
Can a firm even become an AI monopoly?