Youn Baek
@younbaek.bsky.social
younbaek.github.io
PhD student at NYU Stern
PhD student at NYU Stern
Pinned
Youn Baek
@younbaek.bsky.social
· Feb 3
Is foreign aid just political bribery—or can it be a genuine act of humanitarian commitment? My research shows that US international development has deep roots in humanitarian values, inspired by Protestant missionary advocacy. #econsky #policysky
Reposted by Youn Baek
Favorite news of the week is South Korea emerging as the apparent savior of/shining beacon for Western liberal democracy
Applaudissement South Korea, applaudissement 👏: www.wsj.com/world/asia/s...
South Korea’s Impeached President Is Removed From Office Over Martial-Law Decree
Yoon Suk Yeol’s ouster triggers a snap vote within 60 days to elect a new leader who will face major challenges on trade, U.S. relations and North Korea.
www.wsj.com
April 4, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Favorite news of the week is South Korea emerging as the apparent savior of/shining beacon for Western liberal democracy
Someone said the job market is a rare moment when your paper has more readers than just you and your referee.
Ultimately, Baek finds that American religious history explains (at least in part) why America (used to) provide so much foreign aid
March 4, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Someone said the job market is a rare moment when your paper has more readers than just you and your referee.
Reposted by Youn Baek
Today in my econ history PhD class: Politicians and Economic History
For better or worse, reasonably sure no one else teaches a lecture like this in any other econ history grad classes
For better or worse, reasonably sure no one else teaches a lecture like this in any other econ history grad classes
March 3, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Today in my econ history PhD class: Politicians and Economic History
For better or worse, reasonably sure no one else teaches a lecture like this in any other econ history grad classes
For better or worse, reasonably sure no one else teaches a lecture like this in any other econ history grad classes
Reposted by Youn Baek
It seems PubMed has disappeared. This is the digital equivalent of burning a library.
March 2, 2025 at 8:17 AM
It seems PubMed has disappeared. This is the digital equivalent of burning a library.
Reposted by Youn Baek
What the US can learn from South Koreans who stopped an Authoritarian Power-Grab
What the US can learn from South Koreans who stopped an Authoritarian Power-Grab
Jungmin Choi As Elon Musk and his DOGE team set about dismantling government agencies, many Americans expected a strong response from Congressional Democrats. Instead, party leaders offered weak statements and little resistance to being refused entry to…
dlvr.it
February 22, 2025 at 5:09 AM
What the US can learn from South Koreans who stopped an Authoritarian Power-Grab
Reposted by Youn Baek
Hitler, who I do not support, never would have embraced genocide, which I also do not support, if the Weimar shitlibs hadn't tried so hard to deplatform him.
by Glenn Greenwald
by Glenn Greenwald
February 21, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Hitler, who I do not support, never would have embraced genocide, which I also do not support, if the Weimar shitlibs hadn't tried so hard to deplatform him.
by Glenn Greenwald
by Glenn Greenwald
Reposted by Youn Baek
Some of the observations in here can be summed up thusly: this administration is not acting as if they expect to be held accountable by the people through free and fair elections.
I am keeping a diary of daily events, as they unfold open.substack.com/pub/adamprze... It is available to everyone. I am new to Substack, so please let me know if something is wrong with the link or the file.
Diary
Week 1
open.substack.com
February 20, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Some of the observations in here can be summed up thusly: this administration is not acting as if they expect to be held accountable by the people through free and fair elections.
Reposted by Youn Baek
Ninety nine USAID public servants gave their lives in the line of duty.
February 15, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Ninety nine USAID public servants gave their lives in the line of duty.
Reposted by Youn Baek
Only economists use Polity data.
Polity has not coded any countries other than the US since 2018, but this places the US below the 2018 scores of Russia, Venezuela, Haiti, Iraq, Zimbabwe, the Central African Republic...
Perhaps the inference we should make here is about the reliability of Polity.
Perhaps the inference we should make here is about the reliability of Polity.
If you've ever used the Polity data, read this from Monty Marshall.
tl;dr Polity is coding recent US events as an executive self-coup and an adverse regime change.
tl;dr Polity is coding recent US events as an executive self-coup and an adverse regime change.
February 13, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Only economists use Polity data.
Reposted by Youn Baek
Lant Pritchett has a fantastic new paper on whether aid has helped.
He notes that there has been a massive reduction in infant mortality,
More than would be expected from growth alone.
One possible explanation is aid
Now being cut.
He notes that there has been a massive reduction in infant mortality,
More than would be expected from growth alone.
One possible explanation is aid
Now being cut.
February 10, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Lant Pritchett has a fantastic new paper on whether aid has helped.
He notes that there has been a massive reduction in infant mortality,
More than would be expected from growth alone.
One possible explanation is aid
Now being cut.
He notes that there has been a massive reduction in infant mortality,
More than would be expected from growth alone.
One possible explanation is aid
Now being cut.
Reposted by Youn Baek
A new study ties the mandate for USAID to Christian faith, spread across Congressional districts in the 19th century via the YMCA etc.
U.S. commitment to foreign aid comes from the heart, and from the heartland.
Maps from @younbaek.bsky.social's new #jmp #EconSky, here: younbaek.github.io/research
U.S. commitment to foreign aid comes from the heart, and from the heartland.
Maps from @younbaek.bsky.social's new #jmp #EconSky, here: younbaek.github.io/research
February 9, 2025 at 7:58 PM
A new study ties the mandate for USAID to Christian faith, spread across Congressional districts in the 19th century via the YMCA etc.
U.S. commitment to foreign aid comes from the heart, and from the heartland.
Maps from @younbaek.bsky.social's new #jmp #EconSky, here: younbaek.github.io/research
U.S. commitment to foreign aid comes from the heart, and from the heartland.
Maps from @younbaek.bsky.social's new #jmp #EconSky, here: younbaek.github.io/research
Reposted by Youn Baek
In a new post about the Musk/Trump dismantling USAID, I spoke to the prominent aid critic William Easterly, an economist at NYU. “It’s illegal and it’s undemocratic," he told me. "Even if I like the idea of moving away from aid, I cannot condone this horrific way to go about it.” (1/3)
February 8, 2025 at 5:07 PM
In a new post about the Musk/Trump dismantling USAID, I spoke to the prominent aid critic William Easterly, an economist at NYU. “It’s illegal and it’s undemocratic," he told me. "Even if I like the idea of moving away from aid, I cannot condone this horrific way to go about it.” (1/3)
Reposted by Youn Baek
Hold off on USAID obituaries and suggesting staff have gone.
Most actions so far are under legal challenge, only Congress can get rid of USAID (and its funding), the staff are on administrative leave.
What has happened is terrible, but it is time to push back, not give in.
Most actions so far are under legal challenge, only Congress can get rid of USAID (and its funding), the staff are on administrative leave.
What has happened is terrible, but it is time to push back, not give in.
February 7, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Hold off on USAID obituaries and suggesting staff have gone.
Most actions so far are under legal challenge, only Congress can get rid of USAID (and its funding), the staff are on administrative leave.
What has happened is terrible, but it is time to push back, not give in.
Most actions so far are under legal challenge, only Congress can get rid of USAID (and its funding), the staff are on administrative leave.
What has happened is terrible, but it is time to push back, not give in.
Reposted by Youn Baek
Cuts to USAID will scupper access to drugs, workers, clinics & humanitarian aid.
In Kenya, 40,000 health care workers will lose their jobs
USAID is also a primary funder of 2 refugee camps for 700,000 people.
Infrastructure is being decimated - @kopalo.bsky.social
By @declanwalsh.bsky.social
In Kenya, 40,000 health care workers will lose their jobs
USAID is also a primary funder of 2 refugee camps for 700,000 people.
Infrastructure is being decimated - @kopalo.bsky.social
By @declanwalsh.bsky.social
February 8, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Cuts to USAID will scupper access to drugs, workers, clinics & humanitarian aid.
In Kenya, 40,000 health care workers will lose their jobs
USAID is also a primary funder of 2 refugee camps for 700,000 people.
Infrastructure is being decimated - @kopalo.bsky.social
By @declanwalsh.bsky.social
In Kenya, 40,000 health care workers will lose their jobs
USAID is also a primary funder of 2 refugee camps for 700,000 people.
Infrastructure is being decimated - @kopalo.bsky.social
By @declanwalsh.bsky.social
Reposted by Youn Baek
Research universities are often the largest employers in their region. They are often the primary health care providers to communities. This funding shift will not only reduce US research leadership, it will put working people out of work and reduce healthcare access.
Excellent 🧵 on this evening's NIH announcement of a dramatic reduction in indirect rates for research institutions, which amounts to a generational restructuring of the US research and development ecosystem. These cuts are effective immediately, not just for new grants but for existing ones.
6. The policy does not just affect funding going forward. All existing NIH grants will have their indirect rates cut to 15% as of today, the date of issuance.
For a large university, this creates a sudden and catastrophic shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars against already budgeted funds.
For a large university, this creates a sudden and catastrophic shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars against already budgeted funds.
February 8, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Research universities are often the largest employers in their region. They are often the primary health care providers to communities. This funding shift will not only reduce US research leadership, it will put working people out of work and reduce healthcare access.
Reposted by Youn Baek
A new Congressional Research Service report says plainly that "the president does not have the authority to abolish [USAID]; congressional authorization would be required to abolish, move, or consolidate USAID." punchbowl.news/in12500/
February 5, 2025 at 4:30 PM
A new Congressional Research Service report says plainly that "the president does not have the authority to abolish [USAID]; congressional authorization would be required to abolish, move, or consolidate USAID." punchbowl.news/in12500/
Reposted by Youn Baek
Shutting down USAID is not about efficiency—it’s about undermining America’s global leadership. USAID counters extremism, fights diseases, and creates more markets for U.S. exports. This is reckless and dangerous.
February 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Shutting down USAID is not about efficiency—it’s about undermining America’s global leadership. USAID counters extremism, fights diseases, and creates more markets for U.S. exports. This is reckless and dangerous.
Is foreign aid just political bribery—or can it be a genuine act of humanitarian commitment? My research shows that US international development has deep roots in humanitarian values, inspired by Protestant missionary advocacy. #econsky #policysky
February 3, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Is foreign aid just political bribery—or can it be a genuine act of humanitarian commitment? My research shows that US international development has deep roots in humanitarian values, inspired by Protestant missionary advocacy. #econsky #policysky