Martha Starr
@martha-starr.bsky.social
Washington DC representative of the American Economic Association. Longtime DC economist, deeply interested in economic statistics
Reposted by Martha Starr
Also anyone who thinks BLS is consulting an FOMC calendar while bringing the entire machinery of data collection, curation, and dissemination back online is sorely mistaken.
November 19, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Also anyone who thinks BLS is consulting an FOMC calendar while bringing the entire machinery of data collection, curation, and dissemination back online is sorely mistaken.
Not at all good for insulation of key economic policies & issues from short-run political considerations
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/u...
Supreme Court Allows Trump to Fire F.T.C. Commissioner
www.nytimes.com
September 22, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Not at all good for insulation of key economic policies & issues from short-run political considerations
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/u...
Reposted by Martha Starr
Am Econ Assn speaks out about firing the #BLS Commish.
"It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as [better] data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor--not failure or bias."
"It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as [better] data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor--not failure or bias."
August 2, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Am Econ Assn speaks out about firing the #BLS Commish.
"It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as [better] data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor--not failure or bias."
"It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as [better] data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor--not failure or bias."
Reposted by Martha Starr
AEA Statement on Dismissal of BLS Comm.
"The independence of the federal statistical agencies is essential to the proper functioning of a modern economy. Accurate, timely, and impartial statistics are the foundation upon which households, businesses, and policymakers make critical decisions."
"The independence of the federal statistical agencies is essential to the proper functioning of a modern economy. Accurate, timely, and impartial statistics are the foundation upon which households, businesses, and policymakers make critical decisions."
August 2, 2025 at 1:50 PM
AEA Statement on Dismissal of BLS Comm.
"The independence of the federal statistical agencies is essential to the proper functioning of a modern economy. Accurate, timely, and impartial statistics are the foundation upon which households, businesses, and policymakers make critical decisions."
"The independence of the federal statistical agencies is essential to the proper functioning of a modern economy. Accurate, timely, and impartial statistics are the foundation upon which households, businesses, and policymakers make critical decisions."
Important for all users of these data - speak up stat
AERA has just learned that all restricted-use NCES data licenses will be cancelled, possibly as early as March 20. We urgently request that all AERA members and others in the research community with restricted-use licenses take these two actions: www.aera.net/Research-Pol...
March 15, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Important for all users of these data - speak up stat
More wise words from the Commish on risks to econ stats
I did a lot of worrying out loud about the #statisticalsystem in this NPR interview.
#econsky #jobsday #inflation @amstatnews.bsky.social #data #jobs #gdp #prices
www.npr.org/2025/03/08/n...
#econsky #jobsday #inflation @amstatnews.bsky.social #data #jobs #gdp #prices
www.npr.org/2025/03/08/n...
Regular reporting of economic data could be at risk with federal job cuts
Jobs. Prices. GDP. The federal government keeps close tabs on these and other economic indicators. And decision-makers depend on those numbers to be reliable. But that could be a challenge, given sta...
www.npr.org
March 11, 2025 at 3:36 PM
More wise words from the Commish on risks to econ stats
Reposted by Martha Starr
Measles outbreak in the U.S. continues to expand with 39 new cases in Texas (198 total) and 20 new cases in New Mexico (30 total)
h/t BNO News
h/t BNO News
March 7, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Measles outbreak in the U.S. continues to expand with 39 new cases in Texas (198 total) and 20 new cases in New Mexico (30 total)
h/t BNO News
h/t BNO News
Check it out:
Elon Musk’s net worth on Inauguration Day: $449b. 45 days into Trump 2.0: $330b. (source: Bloomberg Billionaires Index).
Elon Musk’s net worth on Inauguration Day: $449b. 45 days into Trump 2.0: $330b. (source: Bloomberg Billionaires Index).
March 7, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Check it out:
Elon Musk’s net worth on Inauguration Day: $449b. 45 days into Trump 2.0: $330b. (source: Bloomberg Billionaires Index).
Elon Musk’s net worth on Inauguration Day: $449b. 45 days into Trump 2.0: $330b. (source: Bloomberg Billionaires Index).
March 7, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Reposted by Martha Starr
RIP #FESAC
The Fed. Economic #Statistics Advisory Committee has been axed by the Commerce Sec. Since 2000, FESAC’s unpaid top academic & private experts have advised #Census, #BLS & #BEA on their key #economicindicators.
Why: "mission fulfilled" HUH?
#inflation #GDP #jobs #econsky #productivity
The Fed. Economic #Statistics Advisory Committee has been axed by the Commerce Sec. Since 2000, FESAC’s unpaid top academic & private experts have advised #Census, #BLS & #BEA on their key #economicindicators.
Why: "mission fulfilled" HUH?
#inflation #GDP #jobs #econsky #productivity
March 5, 2025 at 1:07 AM
RIP #FESAC
The Fed. Economic #Statistics Advisory Committee has been axed by the Commerce Sec. Since 2000, FESAC’s unpaid top academic & private experts have advised #Census, #BLS & #BEA on their key #economicindicators.
Why: "mission fulfilled" HUH?
#inflation #GDP #jobs #econsky #productivity
The Fed. Economic #Statistics Advisory Committee has been axed by the Commerce Sec. Since 2000, FESAC’s unpaid top academic & private experts have advised #Census, #BLS & #BEA on their key #economicindicators.
Why: "mission fulfilled" HUH?
#inflation #GDP #jobs #econsky #productivity
Reposted by Martha Starr
I wrote a short blog post about the tragedy currently unfolding in the evaluation industry. Trump is destroying vital research capacity and decades of instructional knowledge for pocket change. 1/x
rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/the-irr...
rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/the-irr...
The Irreparable Damage Being Done to Federal Policy Research and Evaluation - Roosevelt Institute
Though their goals obviously differed, Republican and Democratic administrations have for decades relied on the work of social scientists both within and outside the government to conduct research on ...
rooseveltinstitute.org
March 5, 2025 at 9:47 PM
I wrote a short blog post about the tragedy currently unfolding in the evaluation industry. Trump is destroying vital research capacity and decades of instructional knowledge for pocket change. 1/x
rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/the-irr...
rooseveltinstitute.org/blog/the-irr...
Reposted by Martha Starr
(4/4) For more on principles for tax policy in the coming tax debate, including avoiding gimmicks (principle #8!) see my recent piece from @piie.com
www.piie.com/publications...
www.piie.com/publications...
Eight principles for the 2025 tax policy debate (that Republicans and Democrats should be able to agree on)
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Congress passed in 2017, came with a built-in policy time bomb—several of the more popular provisions are set to expire on the last day of 2025. These tax cut expirati...
www.piie.com
March 1, 2025 at 11:42 PM
(4/4) For more on principles for tax policy in the coming tax debate, including avoiding gimmicks (principle #8!) see my recent piece from @piie.com
www.piie.com/publications...
www.piie.com/publications...
Reposted by Martha Starr
So all NIH websites appear to be down.
March 2, 2025 at 12:03 AM
So all NIH websites appear to be down.
Important! They’re ISO knowledgeable volunteers to help archive YRBS, ATUS, and YRBSS
DataLumos is doing invaluable work to preserve government data resources. What can you do? The team is looking for volunteers to assist with metadata and donations to support the costs of data rescue. Details at isr.umich.edu/giving/suppo...
February 20, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Important! They’re ISO knowledgeable volunteers to help archive YRBS, ATUS, and YRBSS
This is extremely serious, as it removes provisions intended to stabilize policy in key areas across presidential administrations (antitrust, financial regulation, & communications) and assure bipartisan voice #BlueSky www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/u...
Trump Signs Order Expanding Power Over Independent Agencies Like FCC and SEC (Gift Article)
The president has already challenged statutory protections against summarily firing officials overseeing such agencies without cause.
www.nytimes.com
February 19, 2025 at 1:14 PM
This is extremely serious, as it removes provisions intended to stabilize policy in key areas across presidential administrations (antitrust, financial regulation, & communications) and assure bipartisan voice #BlueSky www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/u...
Reposted by Martha Starr
That’s how you write a headline, people.
February 19, 2025 at 5:29 AM
That’s how you write a headline, people.
Reposted by Martha Starr
Wendy Edelberg & Ben Harris of @brookings.edu: The risk of a fiscal crisis is higher than it was just four weeks ago. Not because federal borrowing is grinding ever higher, tho it is. Risk is that our political leaders will do something wildly irresponsible www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/o... #econsky
Opinion | How Trump Could Get Us Into a Debt Crisis (Gift Article)
A blowup won’t be sparked by government spending but instead from political malpractice.
www.nytimes.com
February 18, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Wendy Edelberg & Ben Harris of @brookings.edu: The risk of a fiscal crisis is higher than it was just four weeks ago. Not because federal borrowing is grinding ever higher, tho it is. Risk is that our political leaders will do something wildly irresponsible www.nytimes.com/2025/02/18/o... #econsky
Reposted by Martha Starr
Want more & better #data? FILL OUT THIS FORM.
Your use examples & feedback will help #ASA assess the state of #federalstatistics, which will inform policymakers & arm advocates.
Calling all: novices to seasoned users!
gmu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
@econosky.bsky.social #econsky
Your use examples & feedback will help #ASA assess the state of #federalstatistics, which will inform policymakers & arm advocates.
Calling all: novices to seasoned users!
gmu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
@econosky.bsky.social #econsky
February 15, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Want more & better #data? FILL OUT THIS FORM.
Your use examples & feedback will help #ASA assess the state of #federalstatistics, which will inform policymakers & arm advocates.
Calling all: novices to seasoned users!
gmu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
@econosky.bsky.social #econsky
Your use examples & feedback will help #ASA assess the state of #federalstatistics, which will inform policymakers & arm advocates.
Calling all: novices to seasoned users!
gmu.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
@econosky.bsky.social #econsky
Reposted by Martha Starr
The Federal Reserve is not as independent from the executive branch as we’d like to think. The NY Fed just cancelled this Thursday’s @aeacswep.bsky.social reception at #EEA2025 and withdrew from our summer fellowship program. Both support women and underrepresented groups in economics. #EconSky
February 17, 2025 at 1:39 PM
The Federal Reserve is not as independent from the executive branch as we’d like to think. The NY Fed just cancelled this Thursday’s @aeacswep.bsky.social reception at #EEA2025 and withdrew from our summer fellowship program. Both support women and underrepresented groups in economics. #EconSky
OH NO
Update: judge grants DOGE access to DOL private data in response to second suit.
Though govt says DOGE is not an agency, judge decides it can have data access because it is.
abcnews.go.com/Politics/fed...
Though govt says DOGE is not an agency, judge decides it can have data access because it is.
abcnews.go.com/Politics/fed...
Federal judge hands Musk’s DOGE a win on data access at 3 agencies
Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency can continue to access sensitive records from at least three federal agencies, a judge ruled.
abcnews.go.com
February 15, 2025 at 10:45 AM
OH NO
Reposted by Martha Starr
DOGE is at DOL: Here’s why that matters for the U.S. economy.
@politico.com
Quotes me:
“I see some very big threats … associated w/ funding … personnel … reduction of independence and objectivity.”
www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
#econsky #JobsDay #cpi #inflation #statistics #employment #data
@politico.com
Quotes me:
“I see some very big threats … associated w/ funding … personnel … reduction of independence and objectivity.”
www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
#econsky #JobsDay #cpi #inflation #statistics #employment #data
DOGE is at DOL: Here’s why that matters for the U.S. economy.
The department’s statistical bureau is a key source of data that shapes how policymakers and Wall Street investors view the economy.
www.politico.com
February 12, 2025 at 8:14 PM
DOGE is at DOL: Here’s why that matters for the U.S. economy.
@politico.com
Quotes me:
“I see some very big threats … associated w/ funding … personnel … reduction of independence and objectivity.”
www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
#econsky #JobsDay #cpi #inflation #statistics #employment #data
@politico.com
Quotes me:
“I see some very big threats … associated w/ funding … personnel … reduction of independence and objectivity.”
www.politico.com/news/2025/02...
#econsky #JobsDay #cpi #inflation #statistics #employment #data
According to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, Elon’s net worth is down by almost $100b since peaking in December and $68b since Inauguration Day
February 12, 2025 at 3:20 AM
According to Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index, Elon’s net worth is down by almost $100b since peaking in December and $68b since Inauguration Day
Big news! A DC judge ordered CDC, HHS, and FDA to reverse what they did to their websites as a result of the executive orders, by midnight Tuesday. This is a temporary restraining order, but recognizes real and irreparable harms from lack of access. #EconSky. wapo.st/3QbyNdp
Judge orders CDC, FDA to restore websites taken down after Trump gender order
U.S. District Judge John D. Bates granted a restraining order temporarily reversing the Trump administration’s moves to remove scientific data.
wapo.st
February 11, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Big news! A DC judge ordered CDC, HHS, and FDA to reverse what they did to their websites as a result of the executive orders, by midnight Tuesday. This is a temporary restraining order, but recognizes real and irreparable harms from lack of access. #EconSky. wapo.st/3QbyNdp
Reposted by Martha Starr
Statement from ASA Executive Director on new Administration officials accessing sensitive data systems.
www.linkedin.com/posts/ron-wa...
www.linkedin.com/posts/ron-wa...
Ron Wasserstein on LinkedIn: With the reports of new Administration officials accessing sensitive data…
With the reports of new Administration officials accessing sensitive data systems, I call upon policymakers in Congress and the White House to take all…
www.linkedin.com
February 10, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Statement from ASA Executive Director on new Administration officials accessing sensitive data systems.
www.linkedin.com/posts/ron-wa...
www.linkedin.com/posts/ron-wa...