David Waldron
@davidawaldron.bsky.social
Economist in Indianapolis. Dataviz, labor markets, education, workforce development.
waldrn.com
waldrn.com
One under-reported story about the economy over the past 15 years is that concerns about increasing healthcare expenditures turned out to be mostly unfounded.
The CBO projected that healthcare would make up an increasing share of the economy, but spending mostly remained flat.
The CBO projected that healthcare would make up an increasing share of the economy, but spending mostly remained flat.
October 13, 2025 at 4:06 PM
One under-reported story about the economy over the past 15 years is that concerns about increasing healthcare expenditures turned out to be mostly unfounded.
The CBO projected that healthcare would make up an increasing share of the economy, but spending mostly remained flat.
The CBO projected that healthcare would make up an increasing share of the economy, but spending mostly remained flat.
Some of the reasons for lower participation among young people are more concerning than others. Increase in schooling is probably good. Later family formation seems to contribute to *higher* participation. But disability and other reasons are cited more than in the past.
October 12, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Some of the reasons for lower participation among young people are more concerning than others. Increase in schooling is probably good. Later family formation seems to contribute to *higher* participation. But disability and other reasons are cited more than in the past.
Recent college grads retain a large advantage in overall employment rate. Falling labor force participation rates among young people without a college degree is probably a more concerning trend. Lower labor force participation can lower unemployment rates, but that might be bad.
October 12, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Recent college grads retain a large advantage in overall employment rate. Falling labor force participation rates among young people without a college degree is probably a more concerning trend. Lower labor force participation can lower unemployment rates, but that might be bad.
This is the data that has everyone talking. While there’s clearly a narrowing of the unemployment rate gap between recent college grads and other young people, it all occurred pre-COVID, before ChatGPT was released.
October 12, 2025 at 8:23 PM
This is the data that has everyone talking. While there’s clearly a narrowing of the unemployment rate gap between recent college grads and other young people, it all occurred pre-COVID, before ChatGPT was released.
Healthcare-related middle skills jobs have performed better. Cops and firefighters also continue to get paid well.
Jobs that require a college degree still tend to pay above the median wage and many, especially healthcare-related, have increased their standing relative to the median.
Jobs that require a college degree still tend to pay above the median wage and many, especially healthcare-related, have increased their standing relative to the median.
October 3, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Healthcare-related middle skills jobs have performed better. Cops and firefighters also continue to get paid well.
Jobs that require a college degree still tend to pay above the median wage and many, especially healthcare-related, have increased their standing relative to the median.
Jobs that require a college degree still tend to pay above the median wage and many, especially healthcare-related, have increased their standing relative to the median.
We hear a lot about the promise of middle-skills jobs, with a heavy emphasis on blue collar trades. But in the past four decades, those are the jobs where wages have fallen below the median wage.
October 3, 2025 at 10:07 AM
We hear a lot about the promise of middle-skills jobs, with a heavy emphasis on blue collar trades. But in the past four decades, those are the jobs where wages have fallen below the median wage.
The yield curve inverted in April 2022, typically signaling recession within 6-24 months. But 38 months later, the U.S. economy still hasn’t entered recession—the longest streak since 1978.
August 4, 2025 at 10:30 AM
The yield curve inverted in April 2022, typically signaling recession within 6-24 months. But 38 months later, the U.S. economy still hasn’t entered recession—the longest streak since 1978.
This chart shows the common evolution of economic development in OECD countries and China:
Beginning as agricultural economies, industrializing, then ultimately becoming service-based (tertiarization).
blog.waldrn.com/p/what-happe...
Beginning as agricultural economies, industrializing, then ultimately becoming service-based (tertiarization).
blog.waldrn.com/p/what-happe...
May 20, 2025 at 11:07 AM
This chart shows the common evolution of economic development in OECD countries and China:
Beginning as agricultural economies, industrializing, then ultimately becoming service-based (tertiarization).
blog.waldrn.com/p/what-happe...
Beginning as agricultural economies, industrializing, then ultimately becoming service-based (tertiarization).
blog.waldrn.com/p/what-happe...
Median number of authors on an top econ journal publication:
1963-1983: One
1993-2011: Two
2024: Three
1963-1983: One
1993-2011: Two
2024: Three
May 15, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Median number of authors on an top econ journal publication:
1963-1983: One
1993-2011: Two
2024: Three
1963-1983: One
1993-2011: Two
2024: Three
One clue that is evident in the survey is that trend away from feminist views appears to be strongest among boys who say that religion is important in their lives.
May 3, 2025 at 4:32 AM
One clue that is evident in the survey is that trend away from feminist views appears to be strongest among boys who say that religion is important in their lives.
The trend also appears to be independent of fathers being present, education of mothers and communication with parents.
May 3, 2025 at 4:32 AM
The trend also appears to be independent of fathers being present, education of mothers and communication with parents.
Support for gender equality dropped regardless of whether boys regularly hung out with friends or went on dates.
May 3, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Support for gender equality dropped regardless of whether boys regularly hung out with friends or went on dates.
The data defies most simple explanations. The drop appears to be greater among boys who spent the least amount of time using social networks, watching videos or playing video games.
May 3, 2025 at 4:32 AM
The data defies most simple explanations. The drop appears to be greater among boys who spent the least amount of time using social networks, watching videos or playing video games.
A concerning trend has emerged among American boys. The share of 8th and 10th graders who support gender equality has dropped from 2018 to 2023.
May 3, 2025 at 4:32 AM
A concerning trend has emerged among American boys. The share of 8th and 10th graders who support gender equality has dropped from 2018 to 2023.
Here's a map of where high-tech manufacturing is located in the U.S.:
January 29, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Here's a map of where high-tech manufacturing is located in the U.S.:
Here’s a map of when housing structures were built in the United States
December 16, 2024 at 1:24 PM
Here’s a map of when housing structures were built in the United States
There’s more pickup trucks on the road than ever before. There are increasingly used for personal use only, rather than being used for work.
November 27, 2024 at 12:35 PM
There’s more pickup trucks on the road than ever before. There are increasingly used for personal use only, rather than being used for work.
Here’s a 3d render of Lego Mount Rainier
November 26, 2024 at 4:11 PM
Here’s a 3d render of Lego Mount Rainier
November 26, 2024 at 3:51 AM
November 5, 2023 at 12:04 PM
#30DayMapChallenge Day 1: Points
100,000 Indianapolis street lights.
(With a subtle color difference based on whether they are listed as HPS or LED)
100,000 Indianapolis street lights.
(With a subtle color difference based on whether they are listed as HPS or LED)
November 4, 2023 at 5:16 PM
#30DayMapChallenge Day 1: Points
100,000 Indianapolis street lights.
(With a subtle color difference based on whether they are listed as HPS or LED)
100,000 Indianapolis street lights.
(With a subtle color difference based on whether they are listed as HPS or LED)
Percent of recipes including herb/spice/seasoning by cuisine.
September 29, 2023 at 11:45 AM
Percent of recipes including herb/spice/seasoning by cuisine.