Alexander Kustov
@akoustov.bsky.social
Author of "In Our Interest: How Democracies Can Make Immigration Popular": http://tinyurl.com/4rwpr6dc. Substack at "Popular by Design": https://tinyurl.com/b93bwr9j. Professor. More at https://alexanderkustov.org/.
Pinned
In most countries, people who want to help refugees can't do so legally.
My new piece explores how the idea of private sponsorship empowers citizens to channel their humanitarian motivations, and why that can make refugee admissions more sustainable.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/why-dont-y...
My new piece explores how the idea of private sponsorship empowers citizens to channel their humanitarian motivations, and why that can make refugee admissions more sustainable.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/why-dont-y...
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Great essay by Alex Nowrasteh. The Au Pair program isn't perfect, but it improves the lives of Americans and foreigners in clear ways. So it certainly merits more attention and study as a policy that could be scaled and sustained politically.
www.alexnowrasteh.com/cp/178535818
www.alexnowrasteh.com/cp/178535818
We Let an Immigrant Live in Our Home
You should too, especially if you have young children
www.alexnowrasteh.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Great essay by Alex Nowrasteh. The Au Pair program isn't perfect, but it improves the lives of Americans and foreigners in clear ways. So it certainly merits more attention and study as a policy that could be scaled and sustained politically.
www.alexnowrasteh.com/cp/178535818
www.alexnowrasteh.com/cp/178535818
Great essay by Alex Nowrasteh. The Au Pair program isn't perfect, but it improves the lives of Americans and foreigners in clear ways. So it certainly merits more attention and study as a policy that could be scaled and sustained politically.
www.alexnowrasteh.com/cp/178535818
www.alexnowrasteh.com/cp/178535818
We Let an Immigrant Live in Our Home
You should too, especially if you have young children
www.alexnowrasteh.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Great essay by Alex Nowrasteh. The Au Pair program isn't perfect, but it improves the lives of Americans and foreigners in clear ways. So it certainly merits more attention and study as a policy that could be scaled and sustained politically.
www.alexnowrasteh.com/cp/178535818
www.alexnowrasteh.com/cp/178535818
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
The @niskanencenter.bsky.social has a helpful new, centrist, and comprehensive roadmap to better immigration regulation in the United States.
Immigration beyond the extremes: A blueprint that actually works - Niskanen Center
By aligning enforcement, admissions, government effectiveness, and core values, we can remake immigration into a strategic tool.
www.niskanencenter.org
November 6, 2025 at 7:52 PM
The @niskanencenter.bsky.social has a helpful new, centrist, and comprehensive roadmap to better immigration regulation in the United States.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Have you heard of the thermostatic model of politics?
@mattyglesias.bsky.social dubs it a 'prognostication superpower' while @johnsides.bsky.social dubs it 'the big LOL of politics'—explaining why the public often wants the opposite of what the government does. Here’s how it works & why it matters:
@mattyglesias.bsky.social dubs it a 'prognostication superpower' while @johnsides.bsky.social dubs it 'the big LOL of politics'—explaining why the public often wants the opposite of what the government does. Here’s how it works & why it matters:
January 3, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Have you heard of the thermostatic model of politics?
@mattyglesias.bsky.social dubs it a 'prognostication superpower' while @johnsides.bsky.social dubs it 'the big LOL of politics'—explaining why the public often wants the opposite of what the government does. Here’s how it works & why it matters:
@mattyglesias.bsky.social dubs it a 'prognostication superpower' while @johnsides.bsky.social dubs it 'the big LOL of politics'—explaining why the public often wants the opposite of what the government does. Here’s how it works & why it matters:
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Some folks asked if Popular by Design would do "newsletter stuff" like sharing links. So starting now, I'll post a monthly roundup focused on important, slightly more positive items you won't find in other migration newsletters. Read October's picks here: alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/migration-...
Migration, But Better: October 2025 Links
Pragmatism from Silicon Valley to the Vatican, what went wrong on immigration during Biden, and why being mean to immigrants doesn't attract voters
alexanderkustov.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Some folks asked if Popular by Design would do "newsletter stuff" like sharing links. So starting now, I'll post a monthly roundup focused on important, slightly more positive items you won't find in other migration newsletters. Read October's picks here: alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/migration-...
Some folks asked if Popular by Design would do "newsletter stuff" like sharing links. So starting now, I'll post a monthly roundup focused on important, slightly more positive items you won't find in other migration newsletters. Read October's picks here: alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/migration-...
Migration, But Better: October 2025 Links
Pragmatism from Silicon Valley to the Vatican, what went wrong on immigration during Biden, and why being mean to immigrants doesn't attract voters
alexanderkustov.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Some folks asked if Popular by Design would do "newsletter stuff" like sharing links. So starting now, I'll post a monthly roundup focused on important, slightly more positive items you won't find in other migration newsletters. Read October's picks here: alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/migration-...
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Excited to announce that we have now updated our @cgdev.org Global Skill Partnership website (cgdev.org/bettermigrat...) and summarised the changes in a new blog w/ Ahmed Iqbal.
www.cgdev.org/blog/next-ge...
www.cgdev.org/blog/next-ge...
The Next Generation of Global Skill Partnerships: How the Model’s Evolved to Meet Current Challenges
Building on previous pilots—including the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC), Youth, Employment, and Skills in Kosovo(YES), and Pilot Project Addressing Labour Shortages Through Innovative La...
www.cgdev.org
October 28, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Excited to announce that we have now updated our @cgdev.org Global Skill Partnership website (cgdev.org/bettermigrat...) and summarised the changes in a new blog w/ Ahmed Iqbal.
www.cgdev.org/blog/next-ge...
www.cgdev.org/blog/next-ge...
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Neither Democrats nor Republicans grasp how needlessly difficult the current legal process is even for the supposedly simplest, uncontested case of spousal immigration.
Once people learn it takes years and thousands of dollars, they're far more open to easing the process.
doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
Once people learn it takes years and thousands of dollars, they're far more open to easing the process.
doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
October 9, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Neither Democrats nor Republicans grasp how needlessly difficult the current legal process is even for the supposedly simplest, uncontested case of spousal immigration.
Once people learn it takes years and thousands of dollars, they're far more open to easing the process.
doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
Once people learn it takes years and thousands of dollars, they're far more open to easing the process.
doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Migration needs more common ground!?
Glad to join Konrad's excellent "Migration Debates" on the importance of compromise with Marc Helbling and Oliviero Angeli.
The interviews are available in English (and German) here:
www.kas.de/en/web/analy...
Glad to join Konrad's excellent "Migration Debates" on the importance of compromise with Marc Helbling and Oliviero Angeli.
The interviews are available in English (and German) here:
www.kas.de/en/web/analy...
October 13, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Migration needs more common ground!?
Glad to join Konrad's excellent "Migration Debates" on the importance of compromise with Marc Helbling and Oliviero Angeli.
The interviews are available in English (and German) here:
www.kas.de/en/web/analy...
Glad to join Konrad's excellent "Migration Debates" on the importance of compromise with Marc Helbling and Oliviero Angeli.
The interviews are available in English (and German) here:
www.kas.de/en/web/analy...
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
🚨 Job Alert 🚨 Our group (@bethewhitaker.bsky.social, @akoustov.bsky.social, Michael Ewers) is hiring a postdoc for a project on long-term environmental changes, shorter-term shocks (conflicts, disasters, economic disruptions), and migration. Details right here: jobs.charlotte.edu/postings/64603
October 17, 2025 at 8:05 PM
🚨 Job Alert 🚨 Our group (@bethewhitaker.bsky.social, @akoustov.bsky.social, Michael Ewers) is hiring a postdoc for a project on long-term environmental changes, shorter-term shocks (conflicts, disasters, economic disruptions), and migration. Details right here: jobs.charlotte.edu/postings/64603
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
If you're just joining Popular by Design, here's my pre-launch post on why the recent positive shifts in immigration polls are not a public mandate for sweeping pro-immigration reforms.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/cp/176226989
alexanderkustov.substack.com/cp/176226989
Behold the Great American Immigration Thermostat
Everything you wanted to know about our never-ending cycle of political backlash and overreach
alexanderkustov.substack.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:24 PM
If you're just joining Popular by Design, here's my pre-launch post on why the recent positive shifts in immigration polls are not a public mandate for sweeping pro-immigration reforms.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/cp/176226989
alexanderkustov.substack.com/cp/176226989
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Heading to discuss how to make immigration popular and better at my two most anticipated events of the year: 2025 Progress Conference in Berkeley (Oct 15–19) and "Migration, a Pilgrimage of Hope" conference in the Vatican (Oct 20–24). DM or say hi if you're around!
October 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Heading to discuss how to make immigration popular and better at my two most anticipated events of the year: 2025 Progress Conference in Berkeley (Oct 15–19) and "Migration, a Pilgrimage of Hope" conference in the Vatican (Oct 20–24). DM or say hi if you're around!
If you're just joining Popular by Design, here's my pre-launch post on why the recent positive shifts in immigration polls are not a public mandate for sweeping pro-immigration reforms.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/cp/176226989
alexanderkustov.substack.com/cp/176226989
Behold the Great American Immigration Thermostat
Everything you wanted to know about our never-ending cycle of political backlash and overreach
alexanderkustov.substack.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:24 PM
If you're just joining Popular by Design, here's my pre-launch post on why the recent positive shifts in immigration polls are not a public mandate for sweeping pro-immigration reforms.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/cp/176226989
alexanderkustov.substack.com/cp/176226989
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
A striking chart from Tony Keller that puts the recent US immigration surge in perspective.
Contrary to what many skeptics assume, Canada shows that very high immigration flows can be sustained when admissions are orderly and clearly serve the national interest in ways most people can recognize.
Contrary to what many skeptics assume, Canada shows that very high immigration flows can be sustained when admissions are orderly and clearly serve the national interest in ways most people can recognize.
October 14, 2025 at 4:46 PM
A striking chart from Tony Keller that puts the recent US immigration surge in perspective.
Contrary to what many skeptics assume, Canada shows that very high immigration flows can be sustained when admissions are orderly and clearly serve the national interest in ways most people can recognize.
Contrary to what many skeptics assume, Canada shows that very high immigration flows can be sustained when admissions are orderly and clearly serve the national interest in ways most people can recognize.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
👀 this new meta-analysis on edutainment by @bardiarahmani.bsky.social, Montano, @dylanwgroves.bsky.social, and Green
doi.org/10.1017/bpp....
377 ests in 77 exps: edutainment moves attitudes, norms, beliefs 📊
Effects persist ⏳
Many reasonable theories about effect heterogeneity are not supported 😇
doi.org/10.1017/bpp....
377 ests in 77 exps: edutainment moves attitudes, norms, beliefs 📊
Effects persist ⏳
Many reasonable theories about effect heterogeneity are not supported 😇
October 14, 2025 at 5:40 PM
👀 this new meta-analysis on edutainment by @bardiarahmani.bsky.social, Montano, @dylanwgroves.bsky.social, and Green
doi.org/10.1017/bpp....
377 ests in 77 exps: edutainment moves attitudes, norms, beliefs 📊
Effects persist ⏳
Many reasonable theories about effect heterogeneity are not supported 😇
doi.org/10.1017/bpp....
377 ests in 77 exps: edutainment moves attitudes, norms, beliefs 📊
Effects persist ⏳
Many reasonable theories about effect heterogeneity are not supported 😇
A striking chart from Tony Keller that puts the recent US immigration surge in perspective.
Contrary to what many skeptics assume, Canada shows that very high immigration flows can be sustained when admissions are orderly and clearly serve the national interest in ways most people can recognize.
Contrary to what many skeptics assume, Canada shows that very high immigration flows can be sustained when admissions are orderly and clearly serve the national interest in ways most people can recognize.
October 14, 2025 at 4:46 PM
A striking chart from Tony Keller that puts the recent US immigration surge in perspective.
Contrary to what many skeptics assume, Canada shows that very high immigration flows can be sustained when admissions are orderly and clearly serve the national interest in ways most people can recognize.
Contrary to what many skeptics assume, Canada shows that very high immigration flows can be sustained when admissions are orderly and clearly serve the national interest in ways most people can recognize.
Heading to discuss how to make immigration popular and better at my two most anticipated events of the year: 2025 Progress Conference in Berkeley (Oct 15–19) and "Migration, a Pilgrimage of Hope" conference in the Vatican (Oct 20–24). DM or say hi if you're around!
October 14, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Heading to discuss how to make immigration popular and better at my two most anticipated events of the year: 2025 Progress Conference in Berkeley (Oct 15–19) and "Migration, a Pilgrimage of Hope" conference in the Vatican (Oct 20–24). DM or say hi if you're around!
Migration needs more common ground!?
Glad to join Konrad's excellent "Migration Debates" on the importance of compromise with Marc Helbling and Oliviero Angeli.
The interviews are available in English (and German) here:
www.kas.de/en/web/analy...
Glad to join Konrad's excellent "Migration Debates" on the importance of compromise with Marc Helbling and Oliviero Angeli.
The interviews are available in English (and German) here:
www.kas.de/en/web/analy...
October 13, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Migration needs more common ground!?
Glad to join Konrad's excellent "Migration Debates" on the importance of compromise with Marc Helbling and Oliviero Angeli.
The interviews are available in English (and German) here:
www.kas.de/en/web/analy...
Glad to join Konrad's excellent "Migration Debates" on the importance of compromise with Marc Helbling and Oliviero Angeli.
The interviews are available in English (and German) here:
www.kas.de/en/web/analy...
Migration braucht mehr gemeinsamen Boden?!
Freue mich, bei Konrads "Migrationsdebatten" mit den tollen Marc Helbling & @olivieroangeli.bsky.social dabei zu sein. Die meisten sind nicht schlicht pro oder contra. Zustimmung wächst, wenn Politik nationale Vorteile bringt.
www.kas.de/de/migration...
Freue mich, bei Konrads "Migrationsdebatten" mit den tollen Marc Helbling & @olivieroangeli.bsky.social dabei zu sein. Die meisten sind nicht schlicht pro oder contra. Zustimmung wächst, wenn Politik nationale Vorteile bringt.
www.kas.de/de/migration...
Migrationspolitische Debatten
Ein Thema, drei Perspektiven.
www.kas.de
October 13, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Migration braucht mehr gemeinsamen Boden?!
Freue mich, bei Konrads "Migrationsdebatten" mit den tollen Marc Helbling & @olivieroangeli.bsky.social dabei zu sein. Die meisten sind nicht schlicht pro oder contra. Zustimmung wächst, wenn Politik nationale Vorteile bringt.
www.kas.de/de/migration...
Freue mich, bei Konrads "Migrationsdebatten" mit den tollen Marc Helbling & @olivieroangeli.bsky.social dabei zu sein. Die meisten sind nicht schlicht pro oder contra. Zustimmung wächst, wenn Politik nationale Vorteile bringt.
www.kas.de/de/migration...
Neither Democrats nor Republicans grasp how needlessly difficult the current legal process is even for the supposedly simplest, uncontested case of spousal immigration.
Once people learn it takes years and thousands of dollars, they're far more open to easing the process.
doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
Once people learn it takes years and thousands of dollars, they're far more open to easing the process.
doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
October 9, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Neither Democrats nor Republicans grasp how needlessly difficult the current legal process is even for the supposedly simplest, uncontested case of spousal immigration.
Once people learn it takes years and thousands of dollars, they're far more open to easing the process.
doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
Once people learn it takes years and thousands of dollars, they're far more open to easing the process.
doi.org/10.1017/XPS....
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
What counts as progress on immigration when we can't even agree on the basics? In my new essay, I argue that durable progress requires compromise and suggest possible shared benchmarks with a focus on state capacity.
Read the full piece here: tinyurl.com/4u27yx5d (I didn’t choose the header/cover)
Read the full piece here: tinyurl.com/4u27yx5d (I didn’t choose the header/cover)
October 1, 2025 at 7:48 PM
What counts as progress on immigration when we can't even agree on the basics? In my new essay, I argue that durable progress requires compromise and suggest possible shared benchmarks with a focus on state capacity.
Read the full piece here: tinyurl.com/4u27yx5d (I didn’t choose the header/cover)
Read the full piece here: tinyurl.com/4u27yx5d (I didn’t choose the header/cover)
What counts as progress on immigration when we can't even agree on the basics? In my new essay, I argue that durable progress requires compromise and suggest possible shared benchmarks with a focus on state capacity.
Read the full piece here: tinyurl.com/4u27yx5d (I didn’t choose the header/cover)
Read the full piece here: tinyurl.com/4u27yx5d (I didn’t choose the header/cover)
October 1, 2025 at 7:48 PM
What counts as progress on immigration when we can't even agree on the basics? In my new essay, I argue that durable progress requires compromise and suggest possible shared benchmarks with a focus on state capacity.
Read the full piece here: tinyurl.com/4u27yx5d (I didn’t choose the header/cover)
Read the full piece here: tinyurl.com/4u27yx5d (I didn’t choose the header/cover)
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
The University of Utah Department of Political Science is hiring a department chair at the rank of Full Professor! This job is open to any subfield.
Let me know if you have questions about the search, including (as you likely are wondering) why we are hiring an external chair.
Let me know if you have questions about the search, including (as you likely are wondering) why we are hiring an external chair.
September 25, 2025 at 4:11 PM
The University of Utah Department of Political Science is hiring a department chair at the rank of Full Professor! This job is open to any subfield.
Let me know if you have questions about the search, including (as you likely are wondering) why we are hiring an external chair.
Let me know if you have questions about the search, including (as you likely are wondering) why we are hiring an external chair.
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Depolarization is not "a scalable solution for reducing societal-level conflict.... achieving lasting depolarization will likely require....moving beyond individual-level treatments to address the elite behaviors and structural incentives that fuel partisan conflict" www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
September 23, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Depolarization is not "a scalable solution for reducing societal-level conflict.... achieving lasting depolarization will likely require....moving beyond individual-level treatments to address the elite behaviors and structural incentives that fuel partisan conflict" www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Alexander Kustov
Do voters prefer refugees to economic immigrants? A simple question that decades of social science still can't answer.
In my new piece, I go down the rabbit hole of why the evidence is mixed, and what that means for debates about populist accommodation.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/do-people-...
In my new piece, I go down the rabbit hole of why the evidence is mixed, and what that means for debates about populist accommodation.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/do-people-...
Do People Like Refugees more than Economic Immigrants?
A simple question that our best research still hasn't settled
alexanderkustov.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Do voters prefer refugees to economic immigrants? A simple question that decades of social science still can't answer.
In my new piece, I go down the rabbit hole of why the evidence is mixed, and what that means for debates about populist accommodation.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/do-people-...
In my new piece, I go down the rabbit hole of why the evidence is mixed, and what that means for debates about populist accommodation.
alexanderkustov.substack.com/p/do-people-...