Christina Brown
@clbrown.bsky.social
Development and Labor Economist
Assistant Professor, UChicago
christinalbrown.com
Assistant Professor, UChicago
christinalbrown.com
Reposted by Christina Brown
It’s so important for people to realize that authoritarianism in America will look like this, not like a police state with martial law and people disappearing into prisons. It will be a dispirited opposition that people are afraid of supporting, bc otherwise they’ll get in trouble.
This is competitive authoritarianism in operation.
February 16, 2025 at 1:11 PM
It’s so important for people to realize that authoritarianism in America will look like this, not like a police state with martial law and people disappearing into prisons. It will be a dispirited opposition that people are afraid of supporting, bc otherwise they’ll get in trouble.
Reposted by Christina Brown
For some of the most comprehensive USAID reporting yet, @timothypmurphy.bsky.social & I spoke to ~12 USAID workers about how Musk & Trump have screwed over FSOs, interrupted life-saving projects, & shattered the foundations of the entire humanitarian aid industry. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Chaos, harassment, and unpaid bills: Inside Elon Musk's war on USAID
“We’ve given up everything to serve our country overseas, and we’re being maligned by the richest asshole in the world.”
www.motherjones.com
February 13, 2025 at 5:13 PM
For some of the most comprehensive USAID reporting yet, @timothypmurphy.bsky.social & I spoke to ~12 USAID workers about how Musk & Trump have screwed over FSOs, interrupted life-saving projects, & shattered the foundations of the entire humanitarian aid industry. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Christina Brown
So what has the Trump/Musk push on USAID achieved so far? I reached out to contacts, and here's the state of play: Children dying. Hospitals closing. Ebola at risk of spreading. US food aid rotting. Moms at risk in childbirth. China gaining soft power. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/o...
Opinion | It’s America That Suffers When We Cut Foreign Aid (Gift Article)
U.S.A.I.D. keeps children alive and us safe.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2025 at 10:49 PM
So what has the Trump/Musk push on USAID achieved so far? I reached out to contacts, and here's the state of play: Children dying. Hospitals closing. Ebola at risk of spreading. US food aid rotting. Moms at risk in childbirth. China gaining soft power. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/o...
Reposted by Christina Brown
Readers have asked what they can do at a personal level, and that's important because the assault on USAID may be a prelude to an attack on Medicaid here in the US. So I recommend some advocacy steps and great nonprofits to support: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/o...
Opinion | It’s America That Suffers When We Cut Foreign Aid (Gift Article)
U.S.A.I.D. keeps children alive and us safe.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Readers have asked what they can do at a personal level, and that's important because the assault on USAID may be a prelude to an attack on Medicaid here in the US. So I recommend some advocacy steps and great nonprofits to support: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/o...
Reposted by Christina Brown
looking to chat with anyone at or adjacent to USAID about what's going on with DOGE there. you can message me on signal at timothypmurphy.41.
February 6, 2025 at 9:12 PM
looking to chat with anyone at or adjacent to USAID about what's going on with DOGE there. you can message me on signal at timothypmurphy.41.
Reposted by Christina Brown
Yes, USAID could use reform, but this is demolition. Trump braids together cruelty, ignorance and shortsightedness, and calls it policy, as the world's richest men go after the worlds poorest children. My column: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/o...
Opinion | The World’s Richest Men Take On the World’s Poorest Children (Gift Article)
I’ve seen U.S.A.I.D. operate around the world, and it’s not woke — it’s lifesaving.
www.nytimes.com
February 6, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Yes, USAID could use reform, but this is demolition. Trump braids together cruelty, ignorance and shortsightedness, and calls it policy, as the world's richest men go after the worlds poorest children. My column: www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/o...
Reposted by Christina Brown
showed up to work ten minutes early to call my state assemblymember, state senator, US congressman, and US senators, you should do the same
February 5, 2025 at 3:52 PM
showed up to work ten minutes early to call my state assemblymember, state senator, US congressman, and US senators, you should do the same
Reposted by Christina Brown
Re. Rahm Emanuel’s “is this the hill you want to die on”: yes. Yes it is. The US government can stop tiny babies dying horrible deaths AND counter China for not very much money - yes, this is a hill worth dying on.
February 5, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Re. Rahm Emanuel’s “is this the hill you want to die on”: yes. Yes it is. The US government can stop tiny babies dying horrible deaths AND counter China for not very much money - yes, this is a hill worth dying on.
Reposted by Christina Brown
One of my party facts is that according to polls, Americans believe foreign aid is about 25% of the federal budget and on average that it *should* be about 10%.
The actual number is less than 1%.
Foreign aid has long been a boogey man of the right, so it's not surprising they're vilifying it now.
The actual number is less than 1%.
Foreign aid has long been a boogey man of the right, so it's not surprising they're vilifying it now.
February 2, 2025 at 10:32 PM
One of my party facts is that according to polls, Americans believe foreign aid is about 25% of the federal budget and on average that it *should* be about 10%.
The actual number is less than 1%.
Foreign aid has long been a boogey man of the right, so it's not surprising they're vilifying it now.
The actual number is less than 1%.
Foreign aid has long been a boogey man of the right, so it's not surprising they're vilifying it now.
Reposted by Christina Brown
🚨BREAKING. From a program officer at the National Science Foundation, a list of keywords that can cause a grant to be pulled. I will be sharing screenshots of these keywords along with a decision tree. Please share widely. This is a crisis for academic freedom & science.
February 4, 2025 at 1:26 AM
🚨BREAKING. From a program officer at the National Science Foundation, a list of keywords that can cause a grant to be pulled. I will be sharing screenshots of these keywords along with a decision tree. Please share widely. This is a crisis for academic freedom & science.
Reposted by Christina Brown
Scenes from a protest outside of USAID today.
February 3, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Scenes from a protest outside of USAID today.
Reposted by Christina Brown
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.
Reposted by Christina Brown
USAID employees overseas are no longer able to access their government security app, which gives them this error code (images provided to me by USAID worker)
February 3, 2025 at 5:13 PM
USAID employees overseas are no longer able to access their government security app, which gives them this error code (images provided to me by USAID worker)
Reposted by Christina Brown
Just spitballing, but things that could happen today:
*Court injunction protecting USAID
*Dems demand hearings on Musk's role
*Someone introduce articles of impeachment
*Dem officeholders go to USAID offices with USAID workers
*Refuse to conduct any more Senate confirmations until this is resolved
*Court injunction protecting USAID
*Dems demand hearings on Musk's role
*Someone introduce articles of impeachment
*Dem officeholders go to USAID offices with USAID workers
*Refuse to conduct any more Senate confirmations until this is resolved
February 3, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Just spitballing, but things that could happen today:
*Court injunction protecting USAID
*Dems demand hearings on Musk's role
*Someone introduce articles of impeachment
*Dem officeholders go to USAID offices with USAID workers
*Refuse to conduct any more Senate confirmations until this is resolved
*Court injunction protecting USAID
*Dems demand hearings on Musk's role
*Someone introduce articles of impeachment
*Dem officeholders go to USAID offices with USAID workers
*Refuse to conduct any more Senate confirmations until this is resolved
Reposted by Christina Brown
People have gathered outside USAID HQ for press event with Democratic Congressmen Beyer, Raskin, Connolly and Olzewski and Senator Van Hollen where they're addressing the building's mysterious shutdown today in the midst of the Trump admin dismantling the agency.
(Photos shared with me)
(Photos shared with me)
February 3, 2025 at 6:02 PM
People have gathered outside USAID HQ for press event with Democratic Congressmen Beyer, Raskin, Connolly and Olzewski and Senator Van Hollen where they're addressing the building's mysterious shutdown today in the midst of the Trump admin dismantling the agency.
(Photos shared with me)
(Photos shared with me)
Reposted by Christina Brown
Indivisible is urging people to visit their senators' local offices between now and Thursday to demand that they use every tool—including denying a quorum and blocking unanimous consent—to fight the confirmation of Project 2025 architect Russell Vought for head of OMB docs.google.com/document/d/1...
February 3, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Indivisible is urging people to visit their senators' local offices between now and Thursday to demand that they use every tool—including denying a quorum and blocking unanimous consent—to fight the confirmation of Project 2025 architect Russell Vought for head of OMB docs.google.com/document/d/1...
The attack on USAID is catastrophic for so many who depend on these services for life-saving healthcare and life-changing education. Call your representative immediately (usaidstopwork.com/individuals) and donate to NGOs supported by USAID:
How You Can Help — USAIDStopWork
Take action—because when aid stops, everyone suffers. Sign the petition. Contact your representatives. Spread the news. .
usaidstopwork.com
February 3, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The attack on USAID is catastrophic for so many who depend on these services for life-saving healthcare and life-changing education. Call your representative immediately (usaidstopwork.com/individuals) and donate to NGOs supported by USAID:
Trump and
@marcorubio
's actions to destroy the US foreign aid system is catastrophic, cruel and hurts Americans and those abroad.
Foreign aid is a minuscule part of the federal budget. Each American pays about $120/year. The returns are enormous. Here's why: 1/
@marcorubio
's actions to destroy the US foreign aid system is catastrophic, cruel and hurts Americans and those abroad.
Foreign aid is a minuscule part of the federal budget. Each American pays about $120/year. The returns are enormous. Here's why: 1/
🧵 THREAD: Trump and Rubio have arrested the international humanitarian aid system and forced lifesaving aid programs to completely halt operations — despite an announcement earlier in the week claiming they had changed course. 1/
February 1, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Trump and
@marcorubio
's actions to destroy the US foreign aid system is catastrophic, cruel and hurts Americans and those abroad.
Foreign aid is a minuscule part of the federal budget. Each American pays about $120/year. The returns are enormous. Here's why: 1/
@marcorubio
's actions to destroy the US foreign aid system is catastrophic, cruel and hurts Americans and those abroad.
Foreign aid is a minuscule part of the federal budget. Each American pays about $120/year. The returns are enormous. Here's why: 1/
Reposted by Christina Brown
New @nberpubs.bsky.social working paper: "When Given Discretion Teachers Did Not Shirk: Evidence from Remedial Education in Secondary Schools" with #SabrinBeg @annefitz13.bsky.social @jkerwin.bsky.social @kwrahman.com
Title summarizes it. We elaborate in the paper: www.nber.org/papers/w33242
Title summarizes it. We elaborate in the paper: www.nber.org/papers/w33242
December 17, 2024 at 6:57 PM
New @nberpubs.bsky.social working paper: "When Given Discretion Teachers Did Not Shirk: Evidence from Remedial Education in Secondary Schools" with #SabrinBeg @annefitz13.bsky.social @jkerwin.bsky.social @kwrahman.com
Title summarizes it. We elaborate in the paper: www.nber.org/papers/w33242
Title summarizes it. We elaborate in the paper: www.nber.org/papers/w33242
My other fantastic student on the market is
@tanyarajan. She is an exceptionally talented development and labor economist studying garment workers and informality in South Asia. www.tanyarajan.com
See a description of her JMP below:
@tanyarajan. She is an exceptionally talented development and labor economist studying garment workers and informality in South Asia. www.tanyarajan.com
See a description of her JMP below:
Tanya Rajan Toggle Abstracts
I am a PhD candidate in Economics at the University of Chicago. I am on the 2024-2025 academic job market.
www.tanyarajan.com
December 15, 2024 at 11:29 PM
My other fantastic student on the market is
@tanyarajan. She is an exceptionally talented development and labor economist studying garment workers and informality in South Asia. www.tanyarajan.com
See a description of her JMP below:
@tanyarajan. She is an exceptionally talented development and labor economist studying garment workers and informality in South Asia. www.tanyarajan.com
See a description of her JMP below:
Reposted by Christina Brown
This paper with @profalucas.bsky.social and Sabrin Beg has been a labor of love and I am so happy to release it
nber.org/papers/w31757
(I'll make this thread different for the dual #twittersky peeps)
nber.org/papers/w31757
(I'll make this thread different for the dual #twittersky peeps)
October 12, 2023 at 8:25 PM
This paper with @profalucas.bsky.social and Sabrin Beg has been a labor of love and I am so happy to release it
nber.org/papers/w31757
(I'll make this thread different for the dual #twittersky peeps)
nber.org/papers/w31757
(I'll make this thread different for the dual #twittersky peeps)
Reposted by Christina Brown
With @overleaf.com down, here's a quick tip to keep working.
If you're already syncing overleaf with Dropbox, you can still find your files in Dropbox/Apps/Overleaf
Install the latex extension in vscode or download an editor like texstudio.
Should take 15 mins or less to get set up! #econsky
If you're already syncing overleaf with Dropbox, you can still find your files in Dropbox/Apps/Overleaf
Install the latex extension in vscode or download an editor like texstudio.
Should take 15 mins or less to get set up! #econsky
December 3, 2024 at 1:19 PM
With @overleaf.com down, here's a quick tip to keep working.
If you're already syncing overleaf with Dropbox, you can still find your files in Dropbox/Apps/Overleaf
Install the latex extension in vscode or download an editor like texstudio.
Should take 15 mins or less to get set up! #econsky
If you're already syncing overleaf with Dropbox, you can still find your files in Dropbox/Apps/Overleaf
Install the latex extension in vscode or download an editor like texstudio.
Should take 15 mins or less to get set up! #econsky
I have two fantastic students on the market this year. Anyone looking to hire in development + labor should take a serious look at them. First up, Varun Kapoor sites.google.com/view/varunk/...
Varun K
I am a Ph.D. Candidate in Economics at the University of Chicago. I am on the 2024-2025 job market.
My fields are Development with a focus on Labo(u)r and Environment, and Political Economy, Economic...
sites.google.com
November 22, 2024 at 3:40 PM
I have two fantastic students on the market this year. Anyone looking to hire in development + labor should take a serious look at them. First up, Varun Kapoor sites.google.com/view/varunk/...