Zoë Plakias
@zoeconomy.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Economics @ Western Washington University | she/her
Scholarship + teaching on food, agriculture, environment, resources
Also: equity, mentorship, pedagogy, public transit, kindness, legos, cats
Views are my own
www.zoeplakias.com
Scholarship + teaching on food, agriculture, environment, resources
Also: equity, mentorship, pedagogy, public transit, kindness, legos, cats
Views are my own
www.zoeplakias.com
Pinned
Zoë Plakias
@zoeconomy.bsky.social
· Mar 7
Applied Econ Jobs | Zoë Plakias | Substack
Job opportunities for applied economists. Click to read Applied Econ Jobs, by Zoë Plakias, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
appliedeconjobs.substack.com
I share a lot of jobs for agricultural, environmental, development, + regional economists via listservs. I recently moved this to a Substack to decrease listserv traffic for those folks not interested in postings + to make posts more accessible to all. Use the Search tab to filter jobs. #EconSky
I strongly dislike the term "economic intuition." Curious about how other economists feel about it.
November 11, 2025 at 1:35 AM
I strongly dislike the term "economic intuition." Curious about how other economists feel about it.
Reposted by Zoë Plakias
Private equity destroys 200-year-old book distribution company that libraries around the country rely on and now libraries are having trouble getting new books:
www.404media.co/libraries-sc...
www.404media.co/libraries-sc...
Libraries Scramble for Books After Giant Distributor Shuts Down
Why it might have been and may continue to be harder to get new releases from your local library.
www.404media.co
October 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Private equity destroys 200-year-old book distribution company that libraries around the country rely on and now libraries are having trouble getting new books:
www.404media.co/libraries-sc...
www.404media.co/libraries-sc...
Reposted by Zoë Plakias
When you are using the "AI" framing, does the way you talk about "AI" carry water for the Sam Altmans of the world? That is, are you helping to paint a picture of their tech as inevitable, all powerful, and/or anything other than commercial products?
>>
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November 10, 2025 at 8:35 PM
When you are using the "AI" framing, does the way you talk about "AI" carry water for the Sam Altmans of the world? That is, are you helping to paint a picture of their tech as inevitable, all powerful, and/or anything other than commercial products?
>>
>>
Reposted by Zoë Plakias
Hi writers! I’m looking to assign a couple of features for Slate before the end of the year. If you have anything in mind that you think would be a fit please send me a pitch! Jenée.Desmond- harris@slate.com or dm me.
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
November 10, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Hi writers! I’m looking to assign a couple of features for Slate before the end of the year. If you have anything in mind that you think would be a fit please send me a pitch! Jenée.Desmond- harris@slate.com or dm me.
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
RTs are appreciated so this can reach more people. Thanks!
Reposted by Zoë Plakias
I can't stress this enough as a super volunteer for the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates. This should prompt you to get MORE involved, not less. Show up and use the existing infrastructure to make it work for all of us. In my neck of the woods, we've seen a ton of local victories this way.
Right, the answer isn't to abandon the party to these weasels.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
Hey, a lot of people are talking about changing affiliation from Democratic to Independent.
Let me tell you why you shouldn’t do that in Colorado.
One of the main ways to get a primary challenge candidate on a ballot is to caucus for your party. You need to be registered as a Dem to caucus.
Let me tell you why you shouldn’t do that in Colorado.
One of the main ways to get a primary challenge candidate on a ballot is to caucus for your party. You need to be registered as a Dem to caucus.
November 10, 2025 at 8:14 PM
I can't stress this enough as a super volunteer for the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates. This should prompt you to get MORE involved, not less. Show up and use the existing infrastructure to make it work for all of us. In my neck of the woods, we've seen a ton of local victories this way.
Reposted by Zoë Plakias
The woman on TikTok calling the mosques and asking if they’d help her with formula and 100% of them asking nothing but what kind do you want and where are you is the Muslim I am, the Muslim I know. And it really makes the hate that much more unmooring.
November 10, 2025 at 8:13 PM
The woman on TikTok calling the mosques and asking if they’d help her with formula and 100% of them asking nothing but what kind do you want and where are you is the Muslim I am, the Muslim I know. And it really makes the hate that much more unmooring.
Reposted by Zoë Plakias
The evidence keeps accumulating that Brexit was an astonishing self-inflicted economic policy disaster. The fact that it is a slow-moving one bodes ill for those who think that populist economic mismanagement will translate into voters punishing populists. www.nber.org/system/files...
November 10, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The evidence keeps accumulating that Brexit was an astonishing self-inflicted economic policy disaster. The fact that it is a slow-moving one bodes ill for those who think that populist economic mismanagement will translate into voters punishing populists. www.nber.org/system/files...
Reposted by Zoë Plakias
I got this useful bon mot from a middle school teacher recently.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
November 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I got this useful bon mot from a middle school teacher recently.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
I just called my two Dem senators! You can, too! Tell them not to cave!!
🚨 We’re hearing that Senate Democrats are on the verge of caving to Trump in another “Schumer Surrender.”
That means your Democratic senators need to hear from you right now.
Call: indivisible.org/resource/cal...
Email: act.indivisible.org/sign/funding...
That means your Democratic senators need to hear from you right now.
Call: indivisible.org/resource/cal...
Email: act.indivisible.org/sign/funding...
November 9, 2025 at 9:45 PM
I just called my two Dem senators! You can, too! Tell them not to cave!!
Reposted by Zoë Plakias
‘You Are All Terrorists’: Four Months in a Salvadoran Prison
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM
This means he could light 99.9% of his money on fire and still be a *billionaire.* What possible use is there for so much wealth?
November 7, 2025 at 12:06 AM
This means he could light 99.9% of his money on fire and still be a *billionaire.* What possible use is there for so much wealth?
Reposted by Zoë Plakias
THIS IS AMAZING. ALSO WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID WE FORGET TO RUIN?
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
🧵
🧵
November 6, 2025 at 9:19 PM
THIS IS AMAZING. ALSO WHAT, IF ANYTHING, DID WE FORGET TO RUIN?
Happy Thursday! Have a great day of ruining workplaces, ladies + allies!
November 6, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Happy Thursday! Have a great day of ruining workplaces, ladies + allies!
Like many, I get my news from multiple indy news sources these days. Among them, I just subscribed to @zeteo.com when one of my fave journalists @swin24.bsky.social moved there. I'm enjoying their new AM e-mail newsletter First Draft (free atm!). Great morning news roundup if you're looking for one!
November 6, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Like many, I get my news from multiple indy news sources these days. Among them, I just subscribed to @zeteo.com when one of my fave journalists @swin24.bsky.social moved there. I'm enjoying their new AM e-mail newsletter First Draft (free atm!). Great morning news roundup if you're looking for one!
Reposted by Zoë Plakias
1. In the wake on Mamdani’s win, we’ll see a lot more far right anti-urban sentiment. Here’s a thread on its roots and evolution.
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
November 5, 2025 at 7:58 AM
1. In the wake on Mamdani’s win, we’ll see a lot more far right anti-urban sentiment. Here’s a thread on its roots and evolution.
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
The idea that the city is evil and corrupt, and the countryside innocent and pure, goes back a long way: to Theocritus in Alexandria, and to the Old Testament. 🧵
An all-woman transition team that appears to be majority women of color. This guy understands who it is that gets things done! 🔥🔥🔥
November 5, 2025 at 7:03 PM
An all-woman transition team that appears to be majority women of color. This guy understands who it is that gets things done! 🔥🔥🔥
When I teach on Election Day I tell students if they haven't already voted + missing class would allow them to do so, they should vote + they will not lose attendance points. I tell them participating in our democracy is more important to me than coming to class. 1/2
November 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
When I teach on Election Day I tell students if they haven't already voted + missing class would allow them to do so, they should vote + they will not lose attendance points. I tell them participating in our democracy is more important to me than coming to class. 1/2
Voted in my local elections already (every level is important!) but particularly excited to see what pans out in the NYC mayoral race, and NJ + VA gubernatorial races. Sending good vibes in your directions! Get out there and vote, y'all! Happy Election Day! #Democracy
November 4, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Voted in my local elections already (every level is important!) but particularly excited to see what pans out in the NYC mayoral race, and NJ + VA gubernatorial races. Sending good vibes in your directions! Get out there and vote, y'all! Happy Election Day! #Democracy
Reposted by Zoë Plakias
I'm looking to speak to people who rely on SNAP about what this past week has been like. If that's you, please reach out, or pass along to others. Can be anonymous.
Signal: marisakabas.04
Email: mkwrites4000@proton.me
Signal: marisakabas.04
Email: mkwrites4000@proton.me
November 3, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I'm looking to speak to people who rely on SNAP about what this past week has been like. If that's you, please reach out, or pass along to others. Can be anonymous.
Signal: marisakabas.04
Email: mkwrites4000@proton.me
Signal: marisakabas.04
Email: mkwrites4000@proton.me
💔 💔 💔
"[Chicago mom] Andrea Soria... overheard her 6-year-old whisper to her dolls: 'We have to be good or ICE will get us.'"
apnews.com/article/chic...
apnews.com/article/chic...
Chicago's children are getting caught in the chaos of immigration crackdowns
In Chicago, children and families have been traumatized by an immigration enforcement action involving tear gas.
apnews.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:55 PM
💔 💔 💔
Sunset at 4:47 today 😢
Get those sun lamps out, fellow residents of the higher latitudes.
Get those sun lamps out, fellow residents of the higher latitudes.
November 2, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Sunset at 4:47 today 😢
Get those sun lamps out, fellow residents of the higher latitudes.
Get those sun lamps out, fellow residents of the higher latitudes.
Reposted by Zoë Plakias
The USDA sent an email to grocery stores telling them they are prohibited from offering special discounts to customers affected by the SNAP funding lapse.
I'm aware of at least 2 stores that had offered struggling customers a discount, then withdrew it after receiving this email
I'm aware of at least 2 stores that had offered struggling customers a discount, then withdrew it after receiving this email
November 2, 2025 at 7:01 PM
The USDA sent an email to grocery stores telling them they are prohibited from offering special discounts to customers affected by the SNAP funding lapse.
I'm aware of at least 2 stores that had offered struggling customers a discount, then withdrew it after receiving this email
I'm aware of at least 2 stores that had offered struggling customers a discount, then withdrew it after receiving this email
Reposted by Zoë Plakias
Satellite images show that most of the 260,000 civilians in Sudan’s el-Fasher are likely still trapped, as mass RSF killings continue
Satellite images show most el-Fasher civilians likely still trapped
Latest images suggest that majority of 260,000 civilians still in captured city, as mass RSF killings continue
www.middleeasteye.net
November 1, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Satellite images show that most of the 260,000 civilians in Sudan’s el-Fasher are likely still trapped, as mass RSF killings continue
Reposted by Zoë Plakias
‘Study after study shows that students want to develop these critical thinking skills, are not lazy, and large numbers of them would be in favor of banning ChatGPT and similar tools in universities’, says @olivia.science www.ru.nl/en/research/...
‘Opposing the inevitability of AI at universities is possible and necessary’ | Radboud University
Since the widespread release of ChatGPT in December of 2022, AI has taken over much of the world by storm – including academia. Most of this happened with very little pushback, despite a myriad of iss...
www.ru.nl
November 1, 2025 at 10:26 PM
‘Study after study shows that students want to develop these critical thinking skills, are not lazy, and large numbers of them would be in favor of banning ChatGPT and similar tools in universities’, says @olivia.science www.ru.nl/en/research/...
How some folks at @themarkup.org + @nytimes.com are using AI...
@sisiwei.bsky.social says she uses AI to say things better, like inspiration for a better headline based on a summary for a story. @rubinafillion.nytimes.com uses Notebook LM to distill down info and ask questions, such as collaborative notes from multiple people from different conference sessions.
November 1, 2025 at 4:20 PM
How some folks at @themarkup.org + @nytimes.com are using AI...