Robert Metcalfe
@rmetcalfe.bsky.social
Economist, Prof at Columbia University.
Chief Economist: Centre for Net Zero (Octopus Energy Group).
Co-editor: Journal of Public Economics.
1st gen, 🏴
https://www.rmetcalfe.net/
Chief Economist: Centre for Net Zero (Octopus Energy Group).
Co-editor: Journal of Public Economics.
1st gen, 🏴
https://www.rmetcalfe.net/
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
1. Schedule unpredictability means you don't work full time, but can't fill the other hours.
Avg hours worked per year in hospitality is 26, compared to 35-40 in most other industries.
But workers can't fill the spare hours with another job as they don't know when they'll be scheduled to work.
Avg hours worked per year in hospitality is 26, compared to 35-40 in most other industries.
But workers can't fill the spare hours with another job as they don't know when they'll be scheduled to work.
November 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
1. Schedule unpredictability means you don't work full time, but can't fill the other hours.
Avg hours worked per year in hospitality is 26, compared to 35-40 in most other industries.
But workers can't fill the spare hours with another job as they don't know when they'll be scheduled to work.
Avg hours worked per year in hospitality is 26, compared to 35-40 in most other industries.
But workers can't fill the spare hours with another job as they don't know when they'll be scheduled to work.
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
Hannah also finds a tradeoff between schedule unpredictability and wages: when the minimum wage is increased, scheduling unpredictability increases too.
Suggests another margin that firms are able to cut costs on when minimum wages increase.
(parallels with our work on workplace injuries).
Suggests another margin that firms are able to cut costs on when minimum wages increase.
(parallels with our work on workplace injuries).
November 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Hannah also finds a tradeoff between schedule unpredictability and wages: when the minimum wage is increased, scheduling unpredictability increases too.
Suggests another margin that firms are able to cut costs on when minimum wages increase.
(parallels with our work on workplace injuries).
Suggests another margin that firms are able to cut costs on when minimum wages increase.
(parallels with our work on workplace injuries).
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
2. Firms pass demand risk onto workers: Hannah shows that on bad-weather days (when fewer people come to buy things from these retail & hospitality businesses), there are more last-minute shift cancellations.
In most jobs, the firm bears the risk of demand shocks unless extreme (-> layoffs).
In most jobs, the firm bears the risk of demand shocks unless extreme (-> layoffs).
November 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
2. Firms pass demand risk onto workers: Hannah shows that on bad-weather days (when fewer people come to buy things from these retail & hospitality businesses), there are more last-minute shift cancellations.
In most jobs, the firm bears the risk of demand shocks unless extreme (-> layoffs).
In most jobs, the firm bears the risk of demand shocks unless extreme (-> layoffs).
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
This is a fascinating paper. It's the first (afaik) to actually document food&drink&retail scheduling unpredictability using actual firm data.
It illustrates v clearly why unpredictable scheduling makes these jobs so difficult:
It illustrates v clearly why unpredictable scheduling makes these jobs so difficult:
Check out Hannah awesome JMP on job schedule unpredictability and how minimum wage policy affects such unpredictability: hannahfarkas.github.io/files/The_Ec...
November 25, 2025 at 5:03 PM
This is a fascinating paper. It's the first (afaik) to actually document food&drink&retail scheduling unpredictability using actual firm data.
It illustrates v clearly why unpredictable scheduling makes these jobs so difficult:
It illustrates v clearly why unpredictable scheduling makes these jobs so difficult:
Check out Hannah awesome JMP on job schedule unpredictability and how minimum wage policy affects such unpredictability: hannahfarkas.github.io/files/The_Ec...
November 25, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Check out Hannah awesome JMP on job schedule unpredictability and how minimum wage policy affects such unpredictability: hannahfarkas.github.io/files/The_Ec...
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
Excited to see my JMP cited in the Economist—it highlights the tradeoffs workers could face with a higher minimum wage and suggests more worker protections like Fair Workweek laws could be important alongside minimum wage increases
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
November 25, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Excited to see my JMP cited in the Economist—it highlights the tradeoffs workers could face with a higher minimum wage and suggests more worker protections like Fair Workweek laws could be important alongside minimum wage increases
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
www.economist.com/finance-and-...
Great podcast on indoor air pollution by @volts.wtf. If you’re interested in a field experiment with using real-time information on changing indoor air pollution, check out our paper: bsky.app/profile/rmet...
Today on Volts: for years, I've wanted to do a podcast on indoor air quality, and I finally found the perfect guest! Dr. Lagoudas & I discuss indoor air pollutants, the policies and technologies that can control them, and the growing need to frame indoor air quality as a basic human right.
What's the deal with indoor air quality?
From CO2 monitors to better building codes, Dr. Georgia Lagoudas outlines how to clean up the spaces where we spend 90% of our lives.
www.volts.wtf
November 19, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Great podcast on indoor air pollution by @volts.wtf. If you’re interested in a field experiment with using real-time information on changing indoor air pollution, check out our paper: bsky.app/profile/rmet...
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
Prospective PhD students: do not hesitate to attend this information session from my great former PhD program!
Interested in a PhD program that offers students the opportunity to do interdisciplinary research at the nexus of natural science and economics? Please join us for a SustDev information session December 4 from 10:15-12 ET.
Sign up here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Sign up here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
November 17, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Prospective PhD students: do not hesitate to attend this information session from my great former PhD program!
Interested in a PhD program that offers students the opportunity to do interdisciplinary research at the nexus of natural science and economics? Please join us for a SustDev information session December 4 from 10:15-12 ET.
Sign up here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Sign up here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
November 17, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Interested in a PhD program that offers students the opportunity to do interdisciplinary research at the nexus of natural science and economics? Please join us for a SustDev information session December 4 from 10:15-12 ET.
Sign up here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Sign up here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
Wow, this is a really interesting #EconJMP
I'm happy to share my #JMP on the relationship between policy intensity and effectiveness!
It challenges the idea that stricter policies are always more effective by showing that policy avoidance rises with stringency during the early period of implementation.
🧵👇
#Econsky #EconJobMarket #EconJMP
It challenges the idea that stricter policies are always more effective by showing that policy avoidance rises with stringency during the early period of implementation.
🧵👇
#Econsky #EconJobMarket #EconJMP
November 14, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Wow, this is a really interesting #EconJMP
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
Super cool #EconJMP by Hayeon on policy intensity and loopholes.
Check out the paper and her other work at: sites.google.com/view/hayeonj...
Check out the paper and her other work at: sites.google.com/view/hayeonj...
I'm happy to share my #JMP on the relationship between policy intensity and effectiveness!
It challenges the idea that stricter policies are always more effective by showing that policy avoidance rises with stringency during the early period of implementation.
🧵👇
#Econsky #EconJobMarket #EconJMP
It challenges the idea that stricter policies are always more effective by showing that policy avoidance rises with stringency during the early period of implementation.
🧵👇
#Econsky #EconJobMarket #EconJMP
November 13, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Super cool #EconJMP by Hayeon on policy intensity and loopholes.
Check out the paper and her other work at: sites.google.com/view/hayeonj...
Check out the paper and her other work at: sites.google.com/view/hayeonj...
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
I've seen Hannah present and she does great stuff. Check out the thread.
I’m on the #EconJobMarket! I study labor, extreme weather adaptation, and inequality.
My JMP addresses an under-studied aspect of the labor market: schedule unpredictability among hourly workers in the service sector.
🧵👇
My JMP addresses an under-studied aspect of the labor market: schedule unpredictability among hourly workers in the service sector.
🧵👇
November 14, 2025 at 10:39 PM
I've seen Hannah present and she does great stuff. Check out the thread.
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
Check out Hannah’s awesome #EconJMP with really cool/unique data that allows for insights into an understudied but important aspect of labor markets.
I’m on the #EconJobMarket! I study labor, extreme weather adaptation, and inequality.
My JMP addresses an under-studied aspect of the labor market: schedule unpredictability among hourly workers in the service sector.
🧵👇
My JMP addresses an under-studied aspect of the labor market: schedule unpredictability among hourly workers in the service sector.
🧵👇
November 15, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Check out Hannah’s awesome #EconJMP with really cool/unique data that allows for insights into an understudied but important aspect of labor markets.
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
I’m on the #EconJobMarket! I study labor, extreme weather adaptation, and inequality.
My JMP addresses an under-studied aspect of the labor market: schedule unpredictability among hourly workers in the service sector.
🧵👇
My JMP addresses an under-studied aspect of the labor market: schedule unpredictability among hourly workers in the service sector.
🧵👇
November 14, 2025 at 4:07 PM
I’m on the #EconJobMarket! I study labor, extreme weather adaptation, and inequality.
My JMP addresses an under-studied aspect of the labor market: schedule unpredictability among hourly workers in the service sector.
🧵👇
My JMP addresses an under-studied aspect of the labor market: schedule unpredictability among hourly workers in the service sector.
🧵👇
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
I'm happy to share my #JMP on the relationship between policy intensity and effectiveness!
It challenges the idea that stricter policies are always more effective by showing that policy avoidance rises with stringency during the early period of implementation.
🧵👇
#Econsky #EconJobMarket #EconJMP
It challenges the idea that stricter policies are always more effective by showing that policy avoidance rises with stringency during the early period of implementation.
🧵👇
#Econsky #EconJobMarket #EconJMP
November 12, 2025 at 10:07 PM
I'm happy to share my #JMP on the relationship between policy intensity and effectiveness!
It challenges the idea that stricter policies are always more effective by showing that policy avoidance rises with stringency during the early period of implementation.
🧵👇
#Econsky #EconJobMarket #EconJMP
It challenges the idea that stricter policies are always more effective by showing that policy avoidance rises with stringency during the early period of implementation.
🧵👇
#Econsky #EconJobMarket #EconJMP
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
Now that is a cool paper, on how labour markets with hourly workers/zero hour contracts push unpredictability and slow business days onto workers.
(She exploits weather and minimum wage variations.)
(She exploits weather and minimum wage variations.)
The first is Hannah Farkas.
JMP: "The Economic Incidence of Schedule Unpredictability in Hourly Work"
Website: hannahfarkas.github.io
Interests: Environmental Econ, Labor Econ
JMP: "The Economic Incidence of Schedule Unpredictability in Hourly Work"
Website: hannahfarkas.github.io
Interests: Environmental Econ, Labor Econ
November 6, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Now that is a cool paper, on how labour markets with hourly workers/zero hour contracts push unpredictability and slow business days onto workers.
(She exploits weather and minimum wage variations.)
(She exploits weather and minimum wage variations.)
Meet our outstanding 2025–26 economics job market candidates from @columbiasipa.bsky.social.
We have two exceptional scholars on this year’s AP market — both bring awesome and policy-relevant research agendas to the market.
www.sipa.columbia.edu/sipa-educati...
We have two exceptional scholars on this year’s AP market — both bring awesome and policy-relevant research agendas to the market.
www.sipa.columbia.edu/sipa-educati...
November 5, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Meet our outstanding 2025–26 economics job market candidates from @columbiasipa.bsky.social.
We have two exceptional scholars on this year’s AP market — both bring awesome and policy-relevant research agendas to the market.
www.sipa.columbia.edu/sipa-educati...
We have two exceptional scholars on this year’s AP market — both bring awesome and policy-relevant research agendas to the market.
www.sipa.columbia.edu/sipa-educati...
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
Two intense and inspiring months at @columbiasipa.bsky.social have come to an end!
It has been an incredibly enriching experience to immerse myself in this thriving academic community — and the kind, curious, and passionate researchers at SIPA made it easy to enjoy every day of my research stay.
It has been an incredibly enriching experience to immerse myself in this thriving academic community — and the kind, curious, and passionate researchers at SIPA made it easy to enjoy every day of my research stay.
October 31, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Two intense and inspiring months at @columbiasipa.bsky.social have come to an end!
It has been an incredibly enriching experience to immerse myself in this thriving academic community — and the kind, curious, and passionate researchers at SIPA made it easy to enjoy every day of my research stay.
It has been an incredibly enriching experience to immerse myself in this thriving academic community — and the kind, curious, and passionate researchers at SIPA made it easy to enjoy every day of my research stay.
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
Just a reminder to submit your papers to SoLE!!! It will be a great conference, with not-to-be-missed keynotes by Janet Currie, Kerwin Charles, and Jeff Smith! Avoid FOMO and submit!
🥳
🥳
Society of Labor Economists (SoLE) Annual Conference will be May 1-2, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. Submission portal is now open! Deadline for submissions is October 31--don't forget to submit! It will be a great conference! (organized by me and @jrothst.bsky.social)
mailchi.mp/sole-jole/so...
mailchi.mp/sole-jole/so...
SOLE 2026 Submissions Open
mailchi.mp
October 7, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Just a reminder to submit your papers to SoLE!!! It will be a great conference, with not-to-be-missed keynotes by Janet Currie, Kerwin Charles, and Jeff Smith! Avoid FOMO and submit!
🥳
🥳
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
This recent working paper by @rmetcalfe.bsky.social e.a. for @centrefornetzero.bsky.social shows how effective automated EV smart charging is:
"42% reduction in household electricity demand during peak hours, with 100% of this demand shifted to low-cost, low-emission off-peak periods."
"42% reduction in household electricity demand during peak hours, with 100% of this demand shifted to low-cost, low-emission off-peak periods."
October 3, 2025 at 11:05 AM
This recent working paper by @rmetcalfe.bsky.social e.a. for @centrefornetzero.bsky.social shows how effective automated EV smart charging is:
"42% reduction in household electricity demand during peak hours, with 100% of this demand shifted to low-cost, low-emission off-peak periods."
"42% reduction in household electricity demand during peak hours, with 100% of this demand shifted to low-cost, low-emission off-peak periods."
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
I remember it like it was yesterday.
Trump's UN speech was his most embarrassing showing since the "DON'T TAKE TYLENOL" one
September 23, 2025 at 3:24 PM
I remember it like it was yesterday.
Very happy to release this working paper today showing the value of AI in helping shape energy demand.
🚗 Can AI make EV charging cheaper and greener?
CNZ ran the world’s largest AI-managed EV charging trial with 13,000 UK households. Check out the results 👇
Summary & working paper 🔗 www.centrefornetzero.org/papers/ai-in...
CNZ ran the world’s largest AI-managed EV charging trial with 13,000 UK households. Check out the results 👇
Summary & working paper 🔗 www.centrefornetzero.org/papers/ai-in...
September 17, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Very happy to release this working paper today showing the value of AI in helping shape energy demand.
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
"New study finds salary benchmarking cuts pay gaps by 25%. Pay dispersion partly arises from firms’ uncertainty about market rates, with key implications for pay transparency policy."
New paper from Perez-Truglia, Li & Cullen
www.restud.com/whats-my-emp...:
#econsky
#REStud
New paper from Perez-Truglia, Li & Cullen
www.restud.com/whats-my-emp...:
#econsky
#REStud
September 17, 2025 at 10:44 AM
"New study finds salary benchmarking cuts pay gaps by 25%. Pay dispersion partly arises from firms’ uncertainty about market rates, with key implications for pay transparency policy."
New paper from Perez-Truglia, Li & Cullen
www.restud.com/whats-my-emp...:
#econsky
#REStud
New paper from Perez-Truglia, Li & Cullen
www.restud.com/whats-my-emp...:
#econsky
#REStud
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
🚗 Can AI make EV charging cheaper and greener?
CNZ ran the world’s largest AI-managed EV charging trial with 13,000 UK households. Check out the results 👇
Summary & working paper 🔗 www.centrefornetzero.org/papers/ai-in...
CNZ ran the world’s largest AI-managed EV charging trial with 13,000 UK households. Check out the results 👇
Summary & working paper 🔗 www.centrefornetzero.org/papers/ai-in...
September 17, 2025 at 8:21 AM
🚗 Can AI make EV charging cheaper and greener?
CNZ ran the world’s largest AI-managed EV charging trial with 13,000 UK households. Check out the results 👇
Summary & working paper 🔗 www.centrefornetzero.org/papers/ai-in...
CNZ ran the world’s largest AI-managed EV charging trial with 13,000 UK households. Check out the results 👇
Summary & working paper 🔗 www.centrefornetzero.org/papers/ai-in...
Reposted by Robert Metcalfe
Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:
"Frictions in recovering unclaimed property: Evidence from a large-scale natural field experiment"
By Alejandro Zentner & Justin Holz
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#econsky #publiceconomics
"Frictions in recovering unclaimed property: Evidence from a large-scale natural field experiment"
By Alejandro Zentner & Justin Holz
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#econsky #publiceconomics
September 9, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:
"Frictions in recovering unclaimed property: Evidence from a large-scale natural field experiment"
By Alejandro Zentner & Justin Holz
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#econsky #publiceconomics
"Frictions in recovering unclaimed property: Evidence from a large-scale natural field experiment"
By Alejandro Zentner & Justin Holz
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
#econsky #publiceconomics