@jcbeckerecon.bsky.social
Vice President, Budget Policy and Data Analytics at First Focus on Children. Views are my own
Reposted
SNAP is probably the most effective federal dollar we spend in terms of long term domestic economic outcomes.
that isn’t why you should support it; you should support it because it is a moral imperative to feed the hungry.
but it’s why even a growth-oriented ghoul shouldn’t oppose it.
that isn’t why you should support it; you should support it because it is a moral imperative to feed the hungry.
but it’s why even a growth-oriented ghoul shouldn’t oppose it.
October 27, 2025 at 1:21 AM
SNAP is probably the most effective federal dollar we spend in terms of long term domestic economic outcomes.
that isn’t why you should support it; you should support it because it is a moral imperative to feed the hungry.
but it’s why even a growth-oriented ghoul shouldn’t oppose it.
that isn’t why you should support it; you should support it because it is a moral imperative to feed the hungry.
but it’s why even a growth-oriented ghoul shouldn’t oppose it.
Reposted
Killer chart from Gregor Semeiniuk and co-authors showing where in the income distribution pandemic windfall oil profits ended up.
October 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Killer chart from Gregor Semeiniuk and co-authors showing where in the income distribution pandemic windfall oil profits ended up.
Reposted
@robmickey.bsky.social & @dziblatt.bsky.social let me post the working paper
Why doesn't police reform work? Because police depts can't credibly commit to their end of the bargain (doing more/better/riskier work in exchange for more $)
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/35o94...
Why doesn't police reform work? Because police depts can't credibly commit to their end of the bargain (doing more/better/riskier work in exchange for more $)
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/35o94...
July 10, 2025 at 4:28 PM
@robmickey.bsky.social & @dziblatt.bsky.social let me post the working paper
Why doesn't police reform work? Because police depts can't credibly commit to their end of the bargain (doing more/better/riskier work in exchange for more $)
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/35o94...
Why doesn't police reform work? Because police depts can't credibly commit to their end of the bargain (doing more/better/riskier work in exchange for more $)
www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/35o94...
Reposted
STAGGERING: This new study of 133 countries is the first to estimate the impact of all USAID’s work. In 2 decades, it has saved *92M* lives. Current cuts, if not reversed, are forecast to cost up to *14M* lives thru 2030. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
July 1, 2025 at 2:23 PM
STAGGERING: This new study of 133 countries is the first to estimate the impact of all USAID’s work. In 2 decades, it has saved *92M* lives. Current cuts, if not reversed, are forecast to cost up to *14M* lives thru 2030. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Reposted
The facts of this point on capitalism and slavery from Phil Magness are true but I've always found this way of arguing about "capitalism" bizarre. It confuses capitalism with anti-statism. Positive law and government support *any* version of capitalism.
cafehayek.com/2025/06/some...
cafehayek.com/2025/06/some...
June 24, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The facts of this point on capitalism and slavery from Phil Magness are true but I've always found this way of arguing about "capitalism" bizarre. It confuses capitalism with anti-statism. Positive law and government support *any* version of capitalism.
cafehayek.com/2025/06/some...
cafehayek.com/2025/06/some...
Reposted
Lol just heard the NPR story about the DOGE guy who lost his job when he said he was surprised at how hard it was to find inefficiencies in the federal govt because he came from Silicon Valley where companies always have lots of people sitting around doing nothing
June 2, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Lol just heard the NPR story about the DOGE guy who lost his job when he said he was surprised at how hard it was to find inefficiencies in the federal govt because he came from Silicon Valley where companies always have lots of people sitting around doing nothing
Reposted
It’s out! I’m deeply proud and grateful for this book — especially for the chance to collaborate with such brilliant & bold minds.
Here’s to hoping its ideas spark fresh conversations and inspire meaningful change in our field. #economics #eurocentrism #decolonisation
Here’s to hoping its ideas spark fresh conversations and inspire meaningful change in our field. #economics #eurocentrism #decolonisation
Economics obscures or is oblivious to the politics embedded in theorization itself. In this book, @devikadutt.bsky.social, @cacrisalves.bsky.social, @surbhikesar.bsky.social & @ingridhk.bsky.social return political questions to the heart of economic theorizing.
See more: www.politybooks.com/...
See more: www.politybooks.com/...
May 31, 2025 at 12:36 PM
It’s out! I’m deeply proud and grateful for this book — especially for the chance to collaborate with such brilliant & bold minds.
Here’s to hoping its ideas spark fresh conversations and inspire meaningful change in our field. #economics #eurocentrism #decolonisation
Here’s to hoping its ideas spark fresh conversations and inspire meaningful change in our field. #economics #eurocentrism #decolonisation
Reposted
Good to see the NYT still has some columnists objecting to their own paper’s attempt to help Musk launder his image.
But: If a somewhat functioning democratic system is to ever again emerge from this mess, reputational damage won’t do. Musk needs to be held accountable in a court of law.
But: If a somewhat functioning democratic system is to ever again emerge from this mess, reputational damage won’t do. Musk needs to be held accountable in a court of law.
"If there were justice in the world, Musk would never be able to repair his reputation... Musk’s sojourn in government has revealed severe flaws in his character — a blithe, dehumanizing cruelty, and a deadly incuriosity. This should shape how he’s seen for the rest of his public life."
Opinion | Elon Musk’s Legacy Is Disease, Starvation and Death
www.nytimes.com
May 30, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Good to see the NYT still has some columnists objecting to their own paper’s attempt to help Musk launder his image.
But: If a somewhat functioning democratic system is to ever again emerge from this mess, reputational damage won’t do. Musk needs to be held accountable in a court of law.
But: If a somewhat functioning democratic system is to ever again emerge from this mess, reputational damage won’t do. Musk needs to be held accountable in a court of law.
Reposted
As of today, Elon Musk is thought to be responsible for the death of 300,000 adults and kids due to the illegal closure of USAID (source: www.impactcounter.com/dashboard?vi...)
That's a 103 deaths per hour, each day. And it will get worse.
His legacy is one of death, destruction, and failure.
That's a 103 deaths per hour, each day. And it will get worse.
His legacy is one of death, destruction, and failure.
May 30, 2025 at 1:57 AM
As of today, Elon Musk is thought to be responsible for the death of 300,000 adults and kids due to the illegal closure of USAID (source: www.impactcounter.com/dashboard?vi...)
That's a 103 deaths per hour, each day. And it will get worse.
His legacy is one of death, destruction, and failure.
That's a 103 deaths per hour, each day. And it will get worse.
His legacy is one of death, destruction, and failure.
Reposted
Reposted
What DOGE actually revealed, with its utter failure to find any significant instances of waste, fraud, or inefficiency is that--notwithstanding Musk and Trump's lies to the contrary-- the Social Security system and other programs they attacked are remarkably efficient in allocating public goods.
May 29, 2025 at 12:35 PM
What DOGE actually revealed, with its utter failure to find any significant instances of waste, fraud, or inefficiency is that--notwithstanding Musk and Trump's lies to the contrary-- the Social Security system and other programs they attacked are remarkably efficient in allocating public goods.
Reposted
This piece takes Musk's putative pov at face value, assuming that his disillusionment" and inability to "upend bureaucracy" (whatever the that means)was a worthy mission that failed because of "obstacles" rather than recognizing DOGE was a disaster from the outset.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/u...
A Disillusioned Musk, Distanced From Trump, Says He’s Exiting Washington
www.nytimes.com
May 29, 2025 at 12:12 PM
This piece takes Musk's putative pov at face value, assuming that his disillusionment" and inability to "upend bureaucracy" (whatever the that means)was a worthy mission that failed because of "obstacles" rather than recognizing DOGE was a disaster from the outset.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/u...
Reposted
Our book is *finally* available for pre-order! It'll ship next week on May 30th 😱 Been a long time coming, very curious about what you all will think.
@devikadutt.bsky.social
@cacrisalves.bsky.social @surbhikesar.bsky.social
@devikadutt.bsky.social
@cacrisalves.bsky.social @surbhikesar.bsky.social
May 19, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Our book is *finally* available for pre-order! It'll ship next week on May 30th 😱 Been a long time coming, very curious about what you all will think.
@devikadutt.bsky.social
@cacrisalves.bsky.social @surbhikesar.bsky.social
@devikadutt.bsky.social
@cacrisalves.bsky.social @surbhikesar.bsky.social
Reposted
In the last ten years, the top 20 percent of the US income distribution have seen gains of $20 trillion in their stock portfolios. The top ten percent of incomes are responsible for half of US household expenditures.
April 3, 2025 at 2:30 PM
In the last ten years, the top 20 percent of the US income distribution have seen gains of $20 trillion in their stock portfolios. The top ten percent of incomes are responsible for half of US household expenditures.
Reposted
Very psyched to read "Containing Keynesianism in an Age of Civil Rights: Jim Crow Monetary Policy and the Struggle for Guaranteed Jobs, 1956-1979" by historian David Stein @davidstein.bsky.social with my seminar this coming week
March 30, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Very psyched to read "Containing Keynesianism in an Age of Civil Rights: Jim Crow Monetary Policy and the Struggle for Guaranteed Jobs, 1956-1979" by historian David Stein @davidstein.bsky.social with my seminar this coming week
Reposted
The people responsible for this should be fired directly into the sun
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/h...
March 26, 2025 at 11:00 PM
The people responsible for this should be fired directly into the sun
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/h...
Reposted
New from column from me: How to save official statistics from Trump’s attacks? Learn from the last data war.
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
The Trump White House’s attack on official data is also an attack on democracy
Targets include the census and gross domestic product.
www.msnbc.com
March 25, 2025 at 8:49 PM
New from column from me: How to save official statistics from Trump’s attacks? Learn from the last data war.
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Reposted
This is absolutely catastrophic and an enormous betrayal.
Undocumented folks have been promised that this info-sharing b/w IRS and DHS wouldn’t occur so that they would pay taxes to a state that offers them nothing in return.
Now they will be rewarded with deportation.
Undocumented folks have been promised that this info-sharing b/w IRS and DHS wouldn’t occur so that they would pay taxes to a state that offers them nothing in return.
Now they will be rewarded with deportation.
March 23, 2025 at 1:57 PM
This is absolutely catastrophic and an enormous betrayal.
Undocumented folks have been promised that this info-sharing b/w IRS and DHS wouldn’t occur so that they would pay taxes to a state that offers them nothing in return.
Now they will be rewarded with deportation.
Undocumented folks have been promised that this info-sharing b/w IRS and DHS wouldn’t occur so that they would pay taxes to a state that offers them nothing in return.
Now they will be rewarded with deportation.
Reposted
It's simply untrue that, compared to 2017 mass resistance, we are seeing mass quiescence. February '25 saw 2x as many protests as Feb '17. This data doesn't include Bernie 'fighting oligarchy' huge rallies, or the disruptions at GOP & Dem town halls. But there are differences 1/3
March 23, 2025 at 9:03 PM
It's simply untrue that, compared to 2017 mass resistance, we are seeing mass quiescence. February '25 saw 2x as many protests as Feb '17. This data doesn't include Bernie 'fighting oligarchy' huge rallies, or the disruptions at GOP & Dem town halls. But there are differences 1/3
Reposted
Lula at UN: “African countries borrow at rates up to 8 times higher than Germany and 4 times higher than the United States. It’s a Marshall Plan in reverse, in which the poorest finance the richest.”
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/mar...
I presented at G20 Rio
YT: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY6Z...
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/mar...
I presented at G20 Rio
YT: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY6Z...
December 3, 2024 at 9:17 PM
Lula at UN: “African countries borrow at rates up to 8 times higher than Germany and 4 times higher than the United States. It’s a Marshall Plan in reverse, in which the poorest finance the richest.”
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/mar...
I presented at G20 Rio
YT: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY6Z...
www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/mar...
I presented at G20 Rio
YT: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY6Z...
Reposted
This is what I don't understand. Bernie apparently drew in thousands, but where is Obama, Michelle, even Hillary?
Adam Serwer said this week the American intelligentsia has not produced a fraction of the criticism of Trump’s fascist assault on American freedom that it deserved.
Here’s an example.
Barack Obama should be literally yelling about the end of the American Republic. Does he not have the nerve?
Here’s an example.
Barack Obama should be literally yelling about the end of the American Republic. Does he not have the nerve?
Figured I’d hop on here today for the 15th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.
With everything going on right now, it’s easy to feel like regular folks can’t make a difference – but the ACA is a reminder that change is possible when we fight for progress.
With everything going on right now, it’s easy to feel like regular folks can’t make a difference – but the ACA is a reminder that change is possible when we fight for progress.
March 23, 2025 at 2:23 PM
This is what I don't understand. Bernie apparently drew in thousands, but where is Obama, Michelle, even Hillary?
Reposted
I need everyone to contemplate the enormity of what #TeslaTakedown has accomplished: average people have successfully wiped out 800 billion dollars of TSLA’s “worth” - not kings, or politicians or armies. Just regular people sticking it to the world’s richest man.
Class. Fucking. Warfare.
Class. Fucking. Warfare.
March 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
I need everyone to contemplate the enormity of what #TeslaTakedown has accomplished: average people have successfully wiped out 800 billion dollars of TSLA’s “worth” - not kings, or politicians or armies. Just regular people sticking it to the world’s richest man.
Class. Fucking. Warfare.
Class. Fucking. Warfare.
Reposted
Imposing and withdrawing and imposing blanket tariffs in fits of pique while planning savage cuts to the safety net to fund permanent tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations is not "family and community focused populism."
I feel this is obvious but apparently needs to be said.
I feel this is obvious but apparently needs to be said.
That explains why President Trump said what he said yesterday.
This is a populist administration, not the market and corporate friendly GOP of the past.
This is a populist administration, not the market and corporate friendly GOP of the past.
March 10, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Imposing and withdrawing and imposing blanket tariffs in fits of pique while planning savage cuts to the safety net to fund permanent tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations is not "family and community focused populism."
I feel this is obvious but apparently needs to be said.
I feel this is obvious but apparently needs to be said.