Riley Acton
@riacton.bsky.social
Pinned
Riley Acton
@riacton.bsky.social
· Sep 8
🚨 New working paper alert! 🚨 #econsky
Emily Cook, Paola Ugalde, and I are thrilled to share "Political Views and College Choices in a Polarized America" — now out with both @iza.org and @annenberginstitute.bsky.social EdWorkingPapers
www.iza.org/publications...
edworkingpapers.com/ai25-1280
Emily Cook, Paola Ugalde, and I are thrilled to share "Political Views and College Choices in a Polarized America" — now out with both @iza.org and @annenberginstitute.bsky.social EdWorkingPapers
www.iza.org/publications...
edworkingpapers.com/ai25-1280
P.S. The first of these is at 8am tomorrow! Get your coffee and come join us to hear cutting-edge work on one of the most pressing higher ed issues of the moment #ASSA2026
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
I’m in Philly for #ASSA2026! I’ll be discussing and presenting, respectively, in these two sessions👇
Lots of great work will be shared in both, so come by if you’re around!
Lots of great work will be shared in both, so come by if you’re around!
January 3, 2026 at 2:43 AM
P.S. The first of these is at 8am tomorrow! Get your coffee and come join us to hear cutting-edge work on one of the most pressing higher ed issues of the moment #ASSA2026
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
I’m in Philly for #ASSA2026! I’ll be discussing and presenting, respectively, in these two sessions👇
Lots of great work will be shared in both, so come by if you’re around!
Lots of great work will be shared in both, so come by if you’re around!
January 2, 2026 at 7:00 PM
I’m in Philly for #ASSA2026! I’ll be discussing and presenting, respectively, in these two sessions👇
Lots of great work will be shared in both, so come by if you’re around!
Lots of great work will be shared in both, so come by if you’re around!
Reposted by Riley Acton
For anyone traveling to #ASSA2026 and building their schedule - check out tomorrow morning's 10:15am session on minimum wages! I'm excited to be presenting some new work with Jeff Clemens and Jonathan Meer - the whole session is full of interesting work!
January 2, 2026 at 3:10 PM
For anyone traveling to #ASSA2026 and building their schedule - check out tomorrow morning's 10:15am session on minimum wages! I'm excited to be presenting some new work with Jeff Clemens and Jonathan Meer - the whole session is full of interesting work!
Reposted by Riley Acton
Planning your #ASSA schedule? Join us for “Collaborative State & Local Policy Research” organized by @vbolotnyy.bsky.social
📅 Mon, Jan 5th | 1–3pm (EST)
📍 Philadelphia Convention Center, Room 203-B
Hope to see you there! #ASSA2026
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
📅 Mon, Jan 5th | 1–3pm (EST)
📍 Philadelphia Convention Center, Room 203-B
Hope to see you there! #ASSA2026
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
American Economic Association
www.aeaweb.org
January 1, 2026 at 3:25 PM
Planning your #ASSA schedule? Join us for “Collaborative State & Local Policy Research” organized by @vbolotnyy.bsky.social
📅 Mon, Jan 5th | 1–3pm (EST)
📍 Philadelphia Convention Center, Room 203-B
Hope to see you there! #ASSA2026
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
📅 Mon, Jan 5th | 1–3pm (EST)
📍 Philadelphia Convention Center, Room 203-B
Hope to see you there! #ASSA2026
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
Reposted by Riley Acton
AEFP is expanding our conference subsidies program to offer financial assistance to a broader membership base so that more researchers, policymakers & practitioners have the opportunity to connect at the conference. The deadline to apply is January 5, 2026 aefpweb.org/conferen...
December 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM
AEFP is expanding our conference subsidies program to offer financial assistance to a broader membership base so that more researchers, policymakers & practitioners have the opportunity to connect at the conference. The deadline to apply is January 5, 2026 aefpweb.org/conferen...
Reposted by Riley Acton
Experienced teachers help other teachers improve more quickly, through collaboration ⬇️
🚨🚨🚨New working paper! 🚨🚨🚨
"Learning by Doing (Together): Collaboration and Teacher Skill Formation"
Do workers genuinely learn from collaboration, or just benefit while working together? I study teacher partnerships to find out.
Paper: john-fallon-econ.com
Presenting at #ASSA2026 #EconSky
1/10
"Learning by Doing (Together): Collaboration and Teacher Skill Formation"
Do workers genuinely learn from collaboration, or just benefit while working together? I study teacher partnerships to find out.
Paper: john-fallon-econ.com
Presenting at #ASSA2026 #EconSky
1/10
December 29, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Experienced teachers help other teachers improve more quickly, through collaboration ⬇️
Reposted by Riley Acton
Opportunity costs exist
Yet, Ohio leaders found $600 million to build a replacement NFL stadium for the Haslams, who have a net worth approaching $9 billion.
Ohio’s libraries could face hard choices next year after 2025 budget cuts
2025 was a tumultuous year for Ohio’s libraries, between the dismantling of a decades-old state funding system and millions of dollars in financial cuts.
buff.ly
December 27, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Opportunity costs exist
Reposted by Riley Acton
"Even after accounting for the upfront costs and delayed benefits, enrolling marginal applicants to public universities generates substantial net returns for society, the marginal students themselves, and the government budget."
Public Universities FTW!
Public Universities FTW!
December 24, 2025 at 9:00 PM
"Even after accounting for the upfront costs and delayed benefits, enrolling marginal applicants to public universities generates substantial net returns for society, the marginal students themselves, and the government budget."
Public Universities FTW!
Public Universities FTW!
They’re not perfect, but golly, public universities are one of the best engines of economic mobility we have
Recently accepted by #QJE, “Marginal Returns to Public Universities,” by Jack Mountjoy: doi.org/10.1093/qje/...
Marginal Returns to Public Universities
Abstract. This paper studies the returns to enrolling in American public universities by comparing the long-term outcomes of barely admitted versus barely
doi.org
December 25, 2025 at 12:15 AM
They’re not perfect, but golly, public universities are one of the best engines of economic mobility we have
Reposted by Riley Acton
Pretty cool to have one of my papers listed as most cited in the Economic Reports of the President from the past 15 years.
See the recent NBER working paper for the source on this: www.nber.org/papers/w34597
See the recent NBER working paper for the source on this: www.nber.org/papers/w34597
December 23, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Pretty cool to have one of my papers listed as most cited in the Economic Reports of the President from the past 15 years.
See the recent NBER working paper for the source on this: www.nber.org/papers/w34597
See the recent NBER working paper for the source on this: www.nber.org/papers/w34597
Reposted by Riley Acton
Ohio’s version hasn’t been renamed. Yet.
December 23, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Ohio’s version hasn’t been renamed. Yet.
Reposted by Riley Acton
Looks like schooling really does causally shift voters to the left. Neat looking work by @danielfiroozi.bsky.social
@danielfiroozi.bsky.social has a paper for you! www.danielfiroozi.com/_files/ugd/4...
www.danielfiroozi.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Looks like schooling really does causally shift voters to the left. Neat looking work by @danielfiroozi.bsky.social
Reposted by Riley Acton
It is utterly catastrophic that RFK Jr. plans to end CDC recommendations for most childhood vaccines.
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
December 20, 2025 at 12:50 AM
It is utterly catastrophic that RFK Jr. plans to end CDC recommendations for most childhood vaccines.
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
Reposted by Riley Acton
question - how long would you keep a manuscript submission at a journal before withdrawing the submission and trying somewhere else if they haven't even made a decision on whether to send it out to reviewers?
December 19, 2025 at 3:13 AM
question - how long would you keep a manuscript submission at a journal before withdrawing the submission and trying somewhere else if they haven't even made a decision on whether to send it out to reviewers?
Reposted by Riley Acton
At a time when sound economic advice is sorely needed, the current administration is crippling the knowledge base of the federal government.
Within categories of nonacademic jobs; perhaps the bleakest sector is hiring by the federal govt. (Not surprising given DOGE cuts and then the government shutdown.) # of such jobs is down 71.1% from last year and is even 79.1% lower than during COVID (2020). There are only 24 listed this yr!
December 18, 2025 at 10:01 AM
At a time when sound economic advice is sorely needed, the current administration is crippling the knowledge base of the federal government.
Reposted by Riley Acton
Among other catastrophic effects of the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, this new work shows how it drives student absences (and undoubtedly learning as well)
In 2000, measles was declared eradicated in the U.S. Today, declining child-vaccination rates are driving the largest measles resurgence we've seen in 3+ decades. How do these outbreaks impact schooling? @tomdee.bsky.social and I examine this question in West Texas, the country's largest outbreak.
December 17, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Among other catastrophic effects of the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases, this new work shows how it drives student absences (and undoubtedly learning as well)
Reposted by Riley Acton
One last (sobering) update on the #EconJobMarket before the winter holidays; data as of 2025-12-14.
In terms of # of job listings on Job Openings for Economists (JOE), this is the worst job mkt in recent yrs for PhD Economists. # jobs down 20% from last yr, even 18.9% lower than during COVID (2020).
In terms of # of job listings on Job Openings for Economists (JOE), this is the worst job mkt in recent yrs for PhD Economists. # jobs down 20% from last yr, even 18.9% lower than during COVID (2020).
December 17, 2025 at 8:52 AM
One last (sobering) update on the #EconJobMarket before the winter holidays; data as of 2025-12-14.
In terms of # of job listings on Job Openings for Economists (JOE), this is the worst job mkt in recent yrs for PhD Economists. # jobs down 20% from last yr, even 18.9% lower than during COVID (2020).
In terms of # of job listings on Job Openings for Economists (JOE), this is the worst job mkt in recent yrs for PhD Economists. # jobs down 20% from last yr, even 18.9% lower than during COVID (2020).
Reposted by Riley Acton
Updates on my website today!
-Frosty Climate, Icy Relationships: Cold and Intimate Partner Violence in Peru moves up to the “Accepted Papers” section (JDE!)
-New Counterfactual simulator app for Gun Policy and the Steel Paradox
Check them out at katiebollman.com
🎉🎉🎉
-Frosty Climate, Icy Relationships: Cold and Intimate Partner Violence in Peru moves up to the “Accepted Papers” section (JDE!)
-New Counterfactual simulator app for Gun Policy and the Steel Paradox
Check them out at katiebollman.com
🎉🎉🎉
Katie Bollman
Welcome! I am an Assistant Professor of Economics in the School of Public Policy at Oregon State University and an affiliate of the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) and the Collabor...
katiebollman.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Updates on my website today!
-Frosty Climate, Icy Relationships: Cold and Intimate Partner Violence in Peru moves up to the “Accepted Papers” section (JDE!)
-New Counterfactual simulator app for Gun Policy and the Steel Paradox
Check them out at katiebollman.com
🎉🎉🎉
-Frosty Climate, Icy Relationships: Cold and Intimate Partner Violence in Peru moves up to the “Accepted Papers” section (JDE!)
-New Counterfactual simulator app for Gun Policy and the Steel Paradox
Check them out at katiebollman.com
🎉🎉🎉
Reposted by Riley Acton
The thing that annoys me is how the idea of "AI competency" is either hilariously empty OR an impossible bar for most undergraduate students.
The weak version of this seems to be "showing students how to use ChatGPT and telling them that it can hallucinate." The strong version is an MA in ML.
The weak version of this seems to be "showing students how to use ChatGPT and telling them that it can hallucinate." The strong version is an MA in ML.
It’s been fun while it lasted: “Purdue University will begin requiring that all of its undergraduate students demonstrate basic competency in artificial intelligence starting with freshmen who enter the university in 2026.”
www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
Purdue University Approves New AI Requirement For All Undergrads
Purdue University will begin requiring that all of its undergraduate students meet an AI competency requirement starting with freshmen who enter the university in 2026.
www.forbes.com
December 14, 2025 at 3:07 PM
The thing that annoys me is how the idea of "AI competency" is either hilariously empty OR an impossible bar for most undergraduate students.
The weak version of this seems to be "showing students how to use ChatGPT and telling them that it can hallucinate." The strong version is an MA in ML.
The weak version of this seems to be "showing students how to use ChatGPT and telling them that it can hallucinate." The strong version is an MA in ML.
I can’t stop thinking about how the children killed at Sandy Hook should be college students now and how we’re still letting this happen. Over and over again. 💔
The Sandy Hook shooting was 13 years ago today. Yesterday, there was a shooting at Brown University. There have been at least 75 school shootings this year. The US has a gun problem, and it seems we're never going to do anything about it. www.cnn.com/us/school-sh...
December 14, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I can’t stop thinking about how the children killed at Sandy Hook should be college students now and how we’re still letting this happen. Over and over again. 💔
Reposted by Riley Acton
It was during an Econ class.
NEW: Brown econ prof Rachel Friedberg says the shooting happened in a finals review session:
"The room has stadium seating with doors that enter at the top. [The TA] said that the shooter came in the doors, yelled something ... and started shooting." www.oceanstatemedia.org/news-and-cul...
"The room has stadium seating with doors that enter at the top. [The TA] said that the shooter came in the doors, yelled something ... and started shooting." www.oceanstatemedia.org/news-and-cul...
December 14, 2025 at 8:58 AM
It was during an Econ class.
Reposted by Riley Acton
Happened at MSU too. We had students who were on-campus for the shooting and were at Oxford High School during the shooting there.
so far tonight msnbc has interviewed two students from brown university that are also survivors of separate high school shootings.
insanity.
insanity.
December 14, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Happened at MSU too. We had students who were on-campus for the shooting and were at Oxford High School during the shooting there.
Reposted by Riley Acton
I am a student at Brown in communication with a friend at RIBC.
There is an urgent need for blood donations to support RI. Donations in NY, NJ, MN, NB, DE or NJ can help supply RI.
Spread the word.
www.ribc.org/donate-blood/
There is an urgent need for blood donations to support RI. Donations in NY, NJ, MN, NB, DE or NJ can help supply RI.
Spread the word.
www.ribc.org/donate-blood/
Donate Blood
Check your eligibility to donate blood, learn about the process and why blood matters, and enroll in a RIBC Donor Loyalty Rewards programs.
www.ribc.org
December 13, 2025 at 11:55 PM
I am a student at Brown in communication with a friend at RIBC.
There is an urgent need for blood donations to support RI. Donations in NY, NJ, MN, NB, DE or NJ can help supply RI.
Spread the word.
www.ribc.org/donate-blood/
There is an urgent need for blood donations to support RI. Donations in NY, NJ, MN, NB, DE or NJ can help supply RI.
Spread the word.
www.ribc.org/donate-blood/
Reposted by Riley Acton
My thoughts are with colleagues and friends at Brown, and with their loved ones. Another day, another shooting on a college campus in this country.
This kind of violence is preventable if only our leaders had the courage and moral clarity to act.
This kind of violence is preventable if only our leaders had the courage and moral clarity to act.
December 13, 2025 at 11:34 PM
My thoughts are with colleagues and friends at Brown, and with their loved ones. Another day, another shooting on a college campus in this country.
This kind of violence is preventable if only our leaders had the courage and moral clarity to act.
This kind of violence is preventable if only our leaders had the courage and moral clarity to act.
Reposted by Riley Acton
This is your annual reminder that if you are in the US and have FSA funds that you won't use, Menstrual products are covered by FSA funds and can be donated to food pantries and shelters.
December 11, 2025 at 11:40 PM
This is your annual reminder that if you are in the US and have FSA funds that you won't use, Menstrual products are covered by FSA funds and can be donated to food pantries and shelters.