Chris Aitken
@chrisaitken.bsky.social
Economist and Data Scientist. Trying to do interesting things with interesting data 🏴🇬🇧
Reposted by Chris Aitken
New paper with @instrumenthull.bsky.social and Michal Kolesár on leniency/judge IV designs.
This article is targeted for the Journal of Economic Perspectives, and so we wrote it with the goal of being accessible to a wide range of users, including advanced undergrads!🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2511.03572
This article is targeted for the Journal of Economic Perspectives, and so we wrote it with the goal of being accessible to a wide range of users, including advanced undergrads!🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2511.03572
November 17, 2025 at 3:06 PM
New paper with @instrumenthull.bsky.social and Michal Kolesár on leniency/judge IV designs.
This article is targeted for the Journal of Economic Perspectives, and so we wrote it with the goal of being accessible to a wide range of users, including advanced undergrads!🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2511.03572
This article is targeted for the Journal of Economic Perspectives, and so we wrote it with the goal of being accessible to a wide range of users, including advanced undergrads!🧵
arxiv.org/abs/2511.03572
Reposted by Chris Aitken
I recently discovered Conventional Comments (conventionalcomments.org) for providing a pseudo-standard set of labels for feedback and just tried it for an article review and it was really helpful to specify issues vs. thoughts vs. suggestions, etc. Hopefully it's helpful for the authors too!
November 17, 2025 at 3:52 PM
I recently discovered Conventional Comments (conventionalcomments.org) for providing a pseudo-standard set of labels for feedback and just tried it for an article review and it was really helpful to specify issues vs. thoughts vs. suggestions, etc. Hopefully it's helpful for the authors too!
Reposted by Chris Aitken
Where should Britain build 1.5 million homes?
@amritakulka.bsky.social l and I analysed 20 billion housing searches + availability to map demand at a hyper-local level.
Map 👉 wheretobuild.warwick.ac.uk
Full + 350 LA reports 👉 www.warwick.ac.uk/cage/whereto...
@cagewarwick.bsky.social
1/n
@amritakulka.bsky.social l and I analysed 20 billion housing searches + availability to map demand at a hyper-local level.
Map 👉 wheretobuild.warwick.ac.uk
Full + 350 LA reports 👉 www.warwick.ac.uk/cage/whereto...
@cagewarwick.bsky.social
1/n
November 11, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Where should Britain build 1.5 million homes?
@amritakulka.bsky.social l and I analysed 20 billion housing searches + availability to map demand at a hyper-local level.
Map 👉 wheretobuild.warwick.ac.uk
Full + 350 LA reports 👉 www.warwick.ac.uk/cage/whereto...
@cagewarwick.bsky.social
1/n
@amritakulka.bsky.social l and I analysed 20 billion housing searches + availability to map demand at a hyper-local level.
Map 👉 wheretobuild.warwick.ac.uk
Full + 350 LA reports 👉 www.warwick.ac.uk/cage/whereto...
@cagewarwick.bsky.social
1/n
Long may we have MPs engaging with serious economic research
Interesting paper - a reminder that instability of hours worked poses real challenges for low earners. Challenges higher earners would never put up with christinahydepatterson.com/_files/ugd/322…
https://christinahydepatterson.com/_files/ugd/322…
November 8, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Long may we have MPs engaging with serious economic research
Reposted by Chris Aitken
A very interesting new report, coordinated by @centaxuk.bsky.social, is co-authored by nine think tanks from across the political spectrum and sets out 7 packages of tax reform that all agree would make the UK tax system "fairer, more effective and more pro-growth” centax.org.uk/tax-reforms-...
Tax Reforms for Growth | CenTax
centax.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 10:28 AM
A very interesting new report, coordinated by @centaxuk.bsky.social, is co-authored by nine think tanks from across the political spectrum and sets out 7 packages of tax reform that all agree would make the UK tax system "fairer, more effective and more pro-growth” centax.org.uk/tax-reforms-...
Reposted by Chris Aitken
Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
The value of public R&D
www.gov.uk
October 30, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Government has published one of those quiet but important documents that might get overlooked as it is not 'newsy'. The headline finding is that £1 of public R&D investment generates £8 in net economic benefits for the UK over the long term
www.gov.uk/government/p...
www.gov.uk/government/p...
Reposted by Chris Aitken
New Working Paper w/ Aristotelis Epanomeritakis
Applications often use experiments with other evidence to estimate counterfactuals hard to identify with a single experiment. Examples include GE effects or external validity. Which experiments to run (and how) in these contexts?
Applications often use experiments with other evidence to estimate counterfactuals hard to identify with a single experiment. Examples include GE effects or external validity. Which experiments to run (and how) in these contexts?
October 29, 2025 at 9:59 PM
New Working Paper w/ Aristotelis Epanomeritakis
Applications often use experiments with other evidence to estimate counterfactuals hard to identify with a single experiment. Examples include GE effects or external validity. Which experiments to run (and how) in these contexts?
Applications often use experiments with other evidence to estimate counterfactuals hard to identify with a single experiment. Examples include GE effects or external validity. Which experiments to run (and how) in these contexts?
Reposted by Chris Aitken
In important math news: new shape just dropped (the noperthedron) www.quantamagazine.org/first-shape-...
First Shape Found That Can’t Pass Through Itself | Quanta Magazine
After more than three centuries, a geometry problem that originated with a royal bet has been solved.
www.quantamagazine.org
October 24, 2025 at 6:08 PM
In important math news: new shape just dropped (the noperthedron) www.quantamagazine.org/first-shape-...
Reposted by Chris Aitken
Reposted by Chris Aitken
What if this tale of graduate-specific woe is off-beam, based on a misguided analysis of the data? What if the accompanying narratives that seek to explain why the most educated are faring especially badly are focused on a mirage? on.ft.com/47igZ9B
October 10, 2025 at 9:30 AM
What if this tale of graduate-specific woe is off-beam, based on a misguided analysis of the data? What if the accompanying narratives that seek to explain why the most educated are faring especially badly are focused on a mirage? on.ft.com/47igZ9B
Reposted by Chris Aitken
I am delighted to share that Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee will join our Department of Economics @econ.uzh.ch at the University of Zurich on July 1, 2026, as Lemann Foundation Professors of Economics.
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October 10, 2025 at 9:01 AM
I am delighted to share that Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee will join our Department of Economics @econ.uzh.ch at the University of Zurich on July 1, 2026, as Lemann Foundation Professors of Economics.
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Reposted by Chris Aitken
Pet parrots which typically live alone (whilst those in the wild live in large flocks) were given the technology to call each other. They would use it for up to three hours a day, and developed favourite friends 💔
on.ft.com/3K05vhS
on.ft.com/3K05vhS
September 12, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Pet parrots which typically live alone (whilst those in the wild live in large flocks) were given the technology to call each other. They would use it for up to three hours a day, and developed favourite friends 💔
on.ft.com/3K05vhS
on.ft.com/3K05vhS
Reposted by Chris Aitken
Experimentation and thinking at the level of a program of experiments
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2025/09/05/e...
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2025/09/05/e...
Experimentation and thinking at the level of a program of experiments | Statistical Modeling, Causal Inference, and Social Science
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu
September 5, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Experimentation and thinking at the level of a program of experiments
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2025/09/05/e...
statmodeling.stat.columbia.edu/2025/09/05/e...
Reposted by Chris Aitken
1./
At last! 🎉 After years in the making, my paper with Manuel Fernandez & @marcogn.bsky.social is out as an IZA Discussion Paper.
We ask: Can better streets boost property tax compliance? 🚧💰 If so, why?
We answer this with an RCT in Mexico + a model of tax compliance.
docs.iza.org/dp18082.pdf
At last! 🎉 After years in the making, my paper with Manuel Fernandez & @marcogn.bsky.social is out as an IZA Discussion Paper.
We ask: Can better streets boost property tax compliance? 🚧💰 If so, why?
We answer this with an RCT in Mexico + a model of tax compliance.
docs.iza.org/dp18082.pdf
August 26, 2025 at 4:28 PM
1./
At last! 🎉 After years in the making, my paper with Manuel Fernandez & @marcogn.bsky.social is out as an IZA Discussion Paper.
We ask: Can better streets boost property tax compliance? 🚧💰 If so, why?
We answer this with an RCT in Mexico + a model of tax compliance.
docs.iza.org/dp18082.pdf
At last! 🎉 After years in the making, my paper with Manuel Fernandez & @marcogn.bsky.social is out as an IZA Discussion Paper.
We ask: Can better streets boost property tax compliance? 🚧💰 If so, why?
We answer this with an RCT in Mexico + a model of tax compliance.
docs.iza.org/dp18082.pdf
Reposted by Chris Aitken
(Z’X)^{-1}Z’Y
Every academic has one core theory they don't actually believe in, but can't stop using because it’s so **neat**
August 27, 2025 at 12:15 PM
(Z’X)^{-1}Z’Y
Reposted by Chris Aitken
Waterstones opens 10 new stores a year as younger adults embrace reading
Waterstones opens 10 new stores a year as younger adults embrace reading
Bookshop chain says people are keen to escape their screens and says rise in sales is partly down to BookTok
Times may be tough on the high street but the bookseller Waterstones is enjoying strong sales as younger adults embrace reading as an escape from their screens and as online competition eases.
“People have come back to reading and buying books in bookshops as we have made a place which is an enjoyable and effective way to buy books,” says James Daunt, the CEO of the British retailer, which has 320 UK bookshops and owns the Foyles, Hatchards and Blackwell’s names, and whose parent group also owns Barnes & Noble, the US’s largest bookstore chain. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
August 17, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Waterstones opens 10 new stores a year as younger adults embrace reading
Reposted by Chris Aitken
Stephanie 'Steve' Shirley has died aged 91. She is the subject of I think, one of the best ever FT lunches, which you can read here (registration or subscription required, will post a first 300 clicks free link in the replies):
Tech pioneer Stephanie Shirley: ‘I need to make the life that was saved worth saving’
The ‘venture philanthropist’ on her journey from child refugee to billion-dollar businesswoman — and why Britain must do more for those fleeing war today
www.ft.com
August 11, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Stephanie 'Steve' Shirley has died aged 91. She is the subject of I think, one of the best ever FT lunches, which you can read here (registration or subscription required, will post a first 300 clicks free link in the replies):
Reposted by Chris Aitken
"PhD-level experts in your back pocket" is a completely nonsensical description of AI but a pretty good description of social media if you follow the right people
August 9, 2025 at 11:07 PM
"PhD-level experts in your back pocket" is a completely nonsensical description of AI but a pretty good description of social media if you follow the right people
Reposted by Chris Aitken
Important things to consider before we outsource the research and writing process to machine proxies
July 21, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Important things to consider before we outsource the research and writing process to machine proxies
Reposted by Chris Aitken
I've been hearing about & seen still photos of the recently rediscovered Chinese typewriter created by Lin Yutang, so cool to see this video report by @emilyzfeng.bsky.social featuring @tsmullaney.bsky.social (who, literally, wrote the book on the Chinese Typewriter) www.youtube.com/shorts/oaIlb...
This is the only prototype of the MingKwai typewriter
YouTube video by NPR
www.youtube.com
June 30, 2025 at 5:47 PM
I've been hearing about & seen still photos of the recently rediscovered Chinese typewriter created by Lin Yutang, so cool to see this video report by @emilyzfeng.bsky.social featuring @tsmullaney.bsky.social (who, literally, wrote the book on the Chinese Typewriter) www.youtube.com/shorts/oaIlb...
Reposted by Chris Aitken
The tragic landslide in Blatten gives me the excuse to tell you the story of how we found out Ice Ages existed. It's a cool story and the most important bit is rather similar to what's happening now.
Aerial view westward over the Blatten deposit and the newly formed lake upstream! 🧊🌊
📷Via Christian Petit/Linkedin
📷Via Christian Petit/Linkedin
May 29, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The tragic landslide in Blatten gives me the excuse to tell you the story of how we found out Ice Ages existed. It's a cool story and the most important bit is rather similar to what's happening now.
Reposted by Chris Aitken
1. Goals that good descriptive *questions* pursue:
🟣 must seeks to describe theoretically relevant objects
🟣 may seek to reveal facts in need of explanation
🟣 may seek to evaluate a theory's face validity or completeness
Good description is invariably deeply cognizant of theory.
🟣 must seeks to describe theoretically relevant objects
🟣 may seek to reveal facts in need of explanation
🟣 may seek to evaluate a theory's face validity or completeness
Good description is invariably deeply cognizant of theory.
May 14, 2025 at 9:52 PM
1. Goals that good descriptive *questions* pursue:
🟣 must seeks to describe theoretically relevant objects
🟣 may seek to reveal facts in need of explanation
🟣 may seek to evaluate a theory's face validity or completeness
Good description is invariably deeply cognizant of theory.
🟣 must seeks to describe theoretically relevant objects
🟣 may seek to reveal facts in need of explanation
🟣 may seek to evaluate a theory's face validity or completeness
Good description is invariably deeply cognizant of theory.
Reposted by Chris Aitken
"I'm going to govern in econometrics" is a winning campaign slogan for the ages.
April 29, 2025 at 2:59 AM
"I'm going to govern in econometrics" is a winning campaign slogan for the ages.
Reposted by Chris Aitken
Say hello to the Penguin Archive. 90 short books being published next month for Penguin’s 90th anniversary—fifteen of which are shown here. £5.99 each, with designs reminiscent of the old Great Ideas series. (Though sadly these aren’t debossed.)
March 28, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Say hello to the Penguin Archive. 90 short books being published next month for Penguin’s 90th anniversary—fifteen of which are shown here. £5.99 each, with designs reminiscent of the old Great Ideas series. (Though sadly these aren’t debossed.)
Reposted by Chris Aitken
For this weekend’s mag @claradoodle.bsky.social did something I have always dreamt of: she got restaurants to show us their booking data and how it’s effected by various forms of publicity. What matters more, TopJaw or an FT review? 😬 … with lovely interactive charts on.ft.com/4iE7PYj
How restaurant hype happens: a tale told through booking data
[FREE TO READ] What mattered most for these five buzzy restaurants — critics, influencers or awards?
on.ft.com
March 23, 2025 at 4:20 PM
For this weekend’s mag @claradoodle.bsky.social did something I have always dreamt of: she got restaurants to show us their booking data and how it’s effected by various forms of publicity. What matters more, TopJaw or an FT review? 😬 … with lovely interactive charts on.ft.com/4iE7PYj