Thomas Durfee
@thomasjdurfee.bsky.social
Visiting Instructor at Macalester College. Ph.D Candidate at U of Minnesota Dept of Applied Econ and R.A. at The Roy Wilkins Center.
Labor and Public Econ, Policy Analysis, & Disparity Studies. he/him
https://sites.google.com/view/thomas-durfee/home/
Labor and Public Econ, Policy Analysis, & Disparity Studies. he/him
https://sites.google.com/view/thomas-durfee/home/
Pinned
Thomas Durfee
@thomasjdurfee.bsky.social
· Nov 10
There are a whole bunch of folks joining here. Howdy!
I'm Tom, I'm wrapping up my PhD at the U of Minnesota Applied Econ department. I study exemptions to the minimum wage, search models, discrimination, and corporate social responsability.
I've been reviewer #3 this whole time. Sorry I took so long
I'm Tom, I'm wrapping up my PhD at the U of Minnesota Applied Econ department. I study exemptions to the minimum wage, search models, discrimination, and corporate social responsability.
I've been reviewer #3 this whole time. Sorry I took so long
Reposted by Thomas Durfee
All my old MinnPost charts broke in a website changeover, but if you want to know if the gales of November really came early, here's the story for you from the archives:
www.minnpost.com/uncategorize...
www.minnpost.com/uncategorize...
What exactly are the gales of November? And is November 10 really ‘early’ for them? - MinnPost
Of course we’re writing about the Edmund Fitzgerald.
www.minnpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:18 PM
All my old MinnPost charts broke in a website changeover, but if you want to know if the gales of November really came early, here's the story for you from the archives:
www.minnpost.com/uncategorize...
www.minnpost.com/uncategorize...
In game theory, the Bertrand Paradox is the finding that as few as two suppliers in a market can be enough to push prices downward and eliminate profits.
This is in contrast to the Bertrand Russell paradox, which is that as few as two people who need a shave can be enough to eliminate positivism.
This is in contrast to the Bertrand Russell paradox, which is that as few as two people who need a shave can be enough to eliminate positivism.
November 7, 2025 at 4:49 PM
In game theory, the Bertrand Paradox is the finding that as few as two suppliers in a market can be enough to push prices downward and eliminate profits.
This is in contrast to the Bertrand Russell paradox, which is that as few as two people who need a shave can be enough to eliminate positivism.
This is in contrast to the Bertrand Russell paradox, which is that as few as two people who need a shave can be enough to eliminate positivism.
Reposted by Thomas Durfee
There's private sector + state-reported data to give us a general idea of the labor market's trajectory ...
But the unemployment rate for Black workers, young people, women, immigrants? There is no replacement for government data.
But the unemployment rate for Black workers, young people, women, immigrants? There is no replacement for government data.
Every month for the last 77 years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated Americans' unemployment rate
This streak dies tomorrow
Govt staff could not survey Americans about whether they're working or looking for work in Oct, the 1st time in 934 months
This blind spot will remain forever
This streak dies tomorrow
Govt staff could not survey Americans about whether they're working or looking for work in Oct, the 1st time in 934 months
This blind spot will remain forever
Here's the planned BLS data release schedule for Nov 2025.
On Tues, it couldn't release Sept job openings, hires, layoffs and firings data.
This morning, it couldn't release 2025Q3 business Productivity and Costs data.
Tomorrow, it can't release Oct 2025 #JobsReport
www.bls.gov/schedule/202...
On Tues, it couldn't release Sept job openings, hires, layoffs and firings data.
This morning, it couldn't release 2025Q3 business Productivity and Costs data.
Tomorrow, it can't release Oct 2025 #JobsReport
www.bls.gov/schedule/202...
November 7, 2025 at 2:59 AM
There's private sector + state-reported data to give us a general idea of the labor market's trajectory ...
But the unemployment rate for Black workers, young people, women, immigrants? There is no replacement for government data.
But the unemployment rate for Black workers, young people, women, immigrants? There is no replacement for government data.
Reposted by Thomas Durfee
![Comic. PERSON 1 with white hat: How tall are you? PERSON 2: 5ft 24cm [caption] When switching to metric, make the process easier by doing it in steps.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreifptvo6h6kdpf75j3i443ospzumiii7a3pblah2urjrawmyymh3ga@jpeg)
November 6, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Voting in Minnesota allows same day registration if you recently moved. Just remember to bring an id and some delivered mail with your address. I bring bank statements and energy bills.
November 4, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Voting in Minnesota allows same day registration if you recently moved. Just remember to bring an id and some delivered mail with your address. I bring bank statements and energy bills.
My favorite part of October is the novelty duop Halloween songs. I am a simple creature.
November 1, 2025 at 12:28 AM
My favorite part of October is the novelty duop Halloween songs. I am a simple creature.
Somehow, avocado toast returned
“At the same time, more than half of Gen Z members say they are struggling to make ends meet, yet a majority buy themselves a small treat, such as a pastry, coffee, or sweet, at least once a week. That can lead to overspending…”
archive.ph/2TI8J
archive.ph/2TI8J
October 31, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Somehow, avocado toast returned
Happy Halloween to all, and for Minnesota, Happy Halloween-Blizzard-iversary
October 31, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Happy Halloween to all, and for Minnesota, Happy Halloween-Blizzard-iversary
Reposted by Thomas Durfee
Sonic the Hedgehog would be a terrible President.
October 29, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Sonic the Hedgehog would be a terrible President.
Reposted by Thomas Durfee
Most (but not all) Black economists come to economics with a worldview that is outside of the mainstream of the profession. This typically includes insights from sociology since inequality, identity, and networks are areas with a longer history there. For an introduction to this, see the 🧵 below 👇
I don't know a single Black economist who doesn't cite widely and source inspiration from history, sociology, gender studies, Black studies, psychology, or a combination of all them.
Stop saying all [fill in field experts] are the same when a search on #bluesky would disprove that in two seconds.
Stop saying all [fill in field experts] are the same when a search on #bluesky would disprove that in two seconds.
October 29, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Most (but not all) Black economists come to economics with a worldview that is outside of the mainstream of the profession. This typically includes insights from sociology since inequality, identity, and networks are areas with a longer history there. For an introduction to this, see the 🧵 below 👇
Who will be the Pearson's R^2 of the left?
If the Democrats want to win elections, they must run on correlation is causation
October 28, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Who will be the Pearson's R^2 of the left?
Reposted by Thomas Durfee
Community Spotlight: Dr. Monique Davis!💡
A Ph.D. economist advancing socioeconomic inclusion, equity, and justice through her research at the W.E. Upjohn Institute. Her work bridges data and lived experience to shape fairer economic systems!
#Economics #Econsky
A Ph.D. economist advancing socioeconomic inclusion, equity, and justice through her research at the W.E. Upjohn Institute. Her work bridges data and lived experience to shape fairer economic systems!
#Economics #Econsky
October 20, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Community Spotlight: Dr. Monique Davis!💡
A Ph.D. economist advancing socioeconomic inclusion, equity, and justice through her research at the W.E. Upjohn Institute. Her work bridges data and lived experience to shape fairer economic systems!
#Economics #Econsky
A Ph.D. economist advancing socioeconomic inclusion, equity, and justice through her research at the W.E. Upjohn Institute. Her work bridges data and lived experience to shape fairer economic systems!
#Economics #Econsky
Reposted by Thomas Durfee
Again, Mark Zuckerberg's kids go to a screen-free school with 14 students total and multiple specialized tutors
let me note that one of the actual tests here is going to be 'what do people pushing these ideas want for their own children' and I will bet you a lot of money that the answer is 'the elite university model of Harvard et al' not 'learning through AI slop'
Wow. Just wow.
"Students pay premium prices for information that AI now delivers instantly and for free. A business student can ask ChatGPT to explain supply chain optimization or generate market analysis in seconds. The traditional lecture-and-test model faces its Blockbuster moment."
"Students pay premium prices for information that AI now delivers instantly and for free. A business student can ask ChatGPT to explain supply chain optimization or generate market analysis in seconds. The traditional lecture-and-test model faces its Blockbuster moment."
October 16, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Again, Mark Zuckerberg's kids go to a screen-free school with 14 students total and multiple specialized tutors
Reposted by Thomas Durfee
I modified the #SahmRule, by @claudia-sahm.bsky.social, creating 3.2k spacial Sahm Rules, which show that #recession exposure can differ by place/time.
The bellwether of recessions are rich/white counties but they're slow; the fastest indicators are poor/black counties, but they're noisy.
The bellwether of recessions are rich/white counties but they're slow; the fastest indicators are poor/black counties, but they're noisy.
October 16, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I modified the #SahmRule, by @claudia-sahm.bsky.social, creating 3.2k spacial Sahm Rules, which show that #recession exposure can differ by place/time.
The bellwether of recessions are rich/white counties but they're slow; the fastest indicators are poor/black counties, but they're noisy.
The bellwether of recessions are rich/white counties but they're slow; the fastest indicators are poor/black counties, but they're noisy.
I just saw Perfect Blue by Satoshi Kon on the big screen ( remaster release).
This was my first Kon movie. Harrowing, tense, but wow, good film.
This was my first Kon movie. Harrowing, tense, but wow, good film.
October 15, 2025 at 2:21 AM
I just saw Perfect Blue by Satoshi Kon on the big screen ( remaster release).
This was my first Kon movie. Harrowing, tense, but wow, good film.
This was my first Kon movie. Harrowing, tense, but wow, good film.
If you get his reference, allow me to present: Taylor Swift outfits as over the counter medicines.
October 9, 2025 at 11:34 PM
If you get his reference, allow me to present: Taylor Swift outfits as over the counter medicines.
Yikes
The econ PhD market will be difficult this year. The exact same thing happened when I went on the market years ago: I sent out 150 applications...and got 1 interview! Then I wrote a paper about it! ideas.repec.org/p/feb/natura...
Both sides of the market responded. Is this happening now too?
Both sides of the market responded. Is this happening now too?
October 7, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Yikes
Frog doesn't do as much physical damage as Crono, as much magic damage as Lucca, or heal as much as Marle, but they are still a good all around-er
October 6, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Frog doesn't do as much physical damage as Crono, as much magic damage as Lucca, or heal as much as Marle, but they are still a good all around-er
The current lit on the minimum wage, food insecurity, and determinants of health comes from JP Leigh, William Rodgers, and Caitlin Caspi, each relying on difference and difference, usually geographic. I'm excited to see more from the bunching estimator in the lineage of Cengiz et al.
New WP: We study how minimum wage increases affect poverty and food hardship in the U.S from 1981-2019. Different from recent work, we study the Supplemental Poverty Measure + two measures of food hardship, factor in cost-of-living differences, and more. www.iza.org/publications...
September 30, 2025 at 1:27 AM
The current lit on the minimum wage, food insecurity, and determinants of health comes from JP Leigh, William Rodgers, and Caitlin Caspi, each relying on difference and difference, usually geographic. I'm excited to see more from the bunching estimator in the lineage of Cengiz et al.
Reposted by Thomas Durfee
New WP: We study how minimum wage increases affect poverty and food hardship in the U.S from 1981-2019. Different from recent work, we study the Supplemental Poverty Measure + two measures of food hardship, factor in cost-of-living differences, and more. www.iza.org/publications...
September 29, 2025 at 12:34 PM
New WP: We study how minimum wage increases affect poverty and food hardship in the U.S from 1981-2019. Different from recent work, we study the Supplemental Poverty Measure + two measures of food hardship, factor in cost-of-living differences, and more. www.iza.org/publications...
Reposted by Thomas Durfee
John Searle, influential philosopher in the history of Analytic philosophy with works in philosophy of mind and language, has passed away. R.I.P. (1932-2025)
September 29, 2025 at 5:43 AM
John Searle, influential philosopher in the history of Analytic philosophy with works in philosophy of mind and language, has passed away. R.I.P. (1932-2025)
Reposted by Thomas Durfee
Introducing my 4 y.o. daughter to Power Rangers. Halfway through the first ep she goes “I love this SO much! Are there more episodes?”
Oh, honey.
Oh, honey.
September 25, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Introducing my 4 y.o. daughter to Power Rangers. Halfway through the first ep she goes “I love this SO much! Are there more episodes?”
Oh, honey.
Oh, honey.