How do we show this? We look at political contributions of the 900K folks who signed the petition to initiate the recall election. Even among this group of staunch Walker opponents, Dem contributions fell and GOP contributions increased *at a higher rate* than among non-signers.

How? The reform could only be implemented in a district after its pre-Act 10 CBA had expired. By the 2012 election, only some districts had experienced the law. We compare these with not-yet-exposed districts find that they drew support for the gov in terms of votes.

Act 10 drastically changed collective bargaining and pay, part. for public teachers. It made it hard for unions to operate, prevented them from negotiating salary schedules, & gave districts flexibility to set T pay. The reform was met with major protests, which lasted months.

🚨🆕 In a new NBER working paper out today (tinyurl.com/2vv3vnhf), with
@wsandholtz.bsky.social we ask a 🔥question: Can controversial public policies end up being political successes even when they cause lots of backlash? And if the answer is yes, what drives pol success? A thread 👇

birthday present!

🚨Conference alert! 📈📉

Katharina Werner (ifo) and I, together w/ CESifo, are organizing a workshop on Funding Education at the 2024 Venice Summer Institute in beautiful San Servolo (ITA).

Keynotes by @dynarski.bsky.social &
@peterbergman.bsky.social

Send us your best work! tinyurl.com/mbhwup7e