Will Masters
@willmasters.bsky.social
Prof. at the Friedman School of Nutrition & Dept. of Economics at Tufts University @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social.
Open-access book on Food Economics: Agriculture, Nutrition and Health.
http://sites.tufts.edu/willmasters
Open-access book on Food Economics: Agriculture, Nutrition and Health.
http://sites.tufts.edu/willmasters
The rise and fall of progressive idealism, as tracked by online search for vegan (vs. organic or vegetarian).
These data are global, you can click to see differences in timing and relative magnitudes here:
trends.google.com/trends/explo...
I'll call this the "Henry Vance Index" of idealism.
2/2
These data are global, you can click to see differences in timing and relative magnitudes here:
trends.google.com/trends/explo...
I'll call this the "Henry Vance Index" of idealism.
2/2
August 31, 2025 at 11:33 AM
The rise and fall of progressive idealism, as tracked by online search for vegan (vs. organic or vegetarian).
These data are global, you can click to see differences in timing and relative magnitudes here:
trends.google.com/trends/explo...
I'll call this the "Henry Vance Index" of idealism.
2/2
These data are global, you can click to see differences in timing and relative magnitudes here:
trends.google.com/trends/explo...
I'll call this the "Henry Vance Index" of idealism.
2/2
Big new paper shows limits to the common belief that healthy & sustainable foods are more expensive than other options.
Details: linkedin.com/posts/wamast...
Article:
doi.org/10.1016/j.aj...
Preprint: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
From @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social, for #foodsky #econsky #foodecon
Details: linkedin.com/posts/wamast...
Article:
doi.org/10.1016/j.aj...
Preprint: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
From @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social, for #foodsky #econsky #foodecon
August 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Big new paper shows limits to the common belief that healthy & sustainable foods are more expensive than other options.
Details: linkedin.com/posts/wamast...
Article:
doi.org/10.1016/j.aj...
Preprint: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
From @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social, for #foodsky #econsky #foodecon
Details: linkedin.com/posts/wamast...
Article:
doi.org/10.1016/j.aj...
Preprint: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
From @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social, for #foodsky #econsky #foodecon
Big thanks to #ABCDE2025 for an amazing 4 days blending new research with big-picture debate on global development in this era of political change.
Here's their video of my 15-min summary of #FoodPricesForNutrition, on whether & how agriculture can meet health needs:
www.youtube.com/live/AEV4YE1...
Here's their video of my 15-min summary of #FoodPricesForNutrition, on whether & how agriculture can meet health needs:
www.youtube.com/live/AEV4YE1...
July 26, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Big thanks to #ABCDE2025 for an amazing 4 days blending new research with big-picture debate on global development in this era of political change.
Here's their video of my 15-min summary of #FoodPricesForNutrition, on whether & how agriculture can meet health needs:
www.youtube.com/live/AEV4YE1...
Here's their video of my 15-min summary of #FoodPricesForNutrition, on whether & how agriculture can meet health needs:
www.youtube.com/live/AEV4YE1...
New paper links emotions in artwork to socioeconomic conditions over >500 years.
One finding: in W. Europe, paintings got cheerier in the decades after more favorable climatic conditions.
Great big-picture stuff from @heblich.bsky.social, w/ C. Gorin & Y. Zylberberg: www.nber.org/papers/w33976
One finding: in W. Europe, paintings got cheerier in the decades after more favorable climatic conditions.
Great big-picture stuff from @heblich.bsky.social, w/ C. Gorin & Y. Zylberberg: www.nber.org/papers/w33976
July 7, 2025 at 12:06 PM
New paper links emotions in artwork to socioeconomic conditions over >500 years.
One finding: in W. Europe, paintings got cheerier in the decades after more favorable climatic conditions.
Great big-picture stuff from @heblich.bsky.social, w/ C. Gorin & Y. Zylberberg: www.nber.org/papers/w33976
One finding: in W. Europe, paintings got cheerier in the decades after more favorable climatic conditions.
Great big-picture stuff from @heblich.bsky.social, w/ C. Gorin & Y. Zylberberg: www.nber.org/papers/w33976
Brief review article out today in Food Policy traces the rapid adoption of least-cost diets for monitoring food access.
Paper: authors.elsevier.com/a/1lND015oGp...
Project: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
Something new, from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social + many others as shown by google ngram data:
Paper: authors.elsevier.com/a/1lND015oGp...
Project: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
Something new, from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social + many others as shown by google ngram data:
July 4, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Brief review article out today in Food Policy traces the rapid adoption of least-cost diets for monitoring food access.
Paper: authors.elsevier.com/a/1lND015oGp...
Project: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
Something new, from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social + many others as shown by google ngram data:
Paper: authors.elsevier.com/a/1lND015oGp...
Project: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
Something new, from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social + many others as shown by google ngram data:
The role of tobacco company execs in the 1990s rise of harmful processed food is wild -- thx for all your work on that!
...and weirdly the cigarette companies' role might not even be causal. Maybe it's just that game knows game, and they wanted in on a racket that would have happened anyway?
...and weirdly the cigarette companies' role might not even be causal. Maybe it's just that game knows game, and they wanted in on a racket that would have happened anyway?
June 29, 2025 at 12:25 PM
The role of tobacco company execs in the 1990s rise of harmful processed food is wild -- thx for all your work on that!
...and weirdly the cigarette companies' role might not even be causal. Maybe it's just that game knows game, and they wanted in on a racket that would have happened anyway?
...and weirdly the cigarette companies' role might not even be causal. Maybe it's just that game knows game, and they wanted in on a racket that would have happened anyway?
Another way they're raising food prices: on Friday June 13th, EPA required use of even more soybeans in diesel fuel.
Bulk edible oil prices jumped 9% on the news.
Burning crops as fuel is bad for all except growers & processors, who cheered.
h/t Aaron Smith agdatanews.substack.com/p/a-big-win-...
Bulk edible oil prices jumped 9% on the news.
Burning crops as fuel is bad for all except growers & processors, who cheered.
h/t Aaron Smith agdatanews.substack.com/p/a-big-win-...
June 27, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Another way they're raising food prices: on Friday June 13th, EPA required use of even more soybeans in diesel fuel.
Bulk edible oil prices jumped 9% on the news.
Burning crops as fuel is bad for all except growers & processors, who cheered.
h/t Aaron Smith agdatanews.substack.com/p/a-big-win-...
Bulk edible oil prices jumped 9% on the news.
Burning crops as fuel is bad for all except growers & processors, who cheered.
h/t Aaron Smith agdatanews.substack.com/p/a-big-win-...
A new World Bank blog post explains how the #HealthyDietBasket allows us to track #FoodPricesForNutrition around the world:
blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/...
We'll have more on this at the #ABCDE conference on July 25th, in the @cgdev.org session on ag & food: www.worldbank.org/en/events/20...
blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/...
We'll have more on this at the #ABCDE conference on July 25th, in the @cgdev.org session on ag & food: www.worldbank.org/en/events/20...
June 17, 2025 at 1:19 PM
A new World Bank blog post explains how the #HealthyDietBasket allows us to track #FoodPricesForNutrition around the world:
blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/...
We'll have more on this at the #ABCDE conference on July 25th, in the @cgdev.org session on ag & food: www.worldbank.org/en/events/20...
blogs.worldbank.org/en/opendata/...
We'll have more on this at the #ABCDE conference on July 25th, in the @cgdev.org session on ag & food: www.worldbank.org/en/events/20...
The book is a suspenseful how-did-they-do-it mystery, from the first microscopes to transforming the entire living world as it mutates around and within us. Along the way we get a timely re-envisioning of science and its discontents.
Lessons for now:
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/672378...
Lessons for now:
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/672378...
June 7, 2025 at 1:32 PM
The book is a suspenseful how-did-they-do-it mystery, from the first microscopes to transforming the entire living world as it mutates around and within us. Along the way we get a timely re-envisioning of science and its discontents.
Lessons for now:
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/672378...
Lessons for now:
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/672378...
A fulfilling escape: just finished reading So Very Small, on the slow then sudden rise of germ theory, antibiotics & vaccination.
The deadly dance between people and bugs is riveting when told by @tomlevenson.bsky.social, and touches us all: My dad was saved by early sulfa drugs in Boston c. 1938
The deadly dance between people and bugs is riveting when told by @tomlevenson.bsky.social, and touches us all: My dad was saved by early sulfa drugs in Boston c. 1938
June 7, 2025 at 1:32 PM
A fulfilling escape: just finished reading So Very Small, on the slow then sudden rise of germ theory, antibiotics & vaccination.
The deadly dance between people and bugs is riveting when told by @tomlevenson.bsky.social, and touches us all: My dad was saved by early sulfa drugs in Boston c. 1938
The deadly dance between people and bugs is riveting when told by @tomlevenson.bsky.social, and touches us all: My dad was saved by early sulfa drugs in Boston c. 1938
Want a cheap & sustainable healthy diet? New preprint confirms that less expensive options generally emit less GHGs. Main exception is animal source foods. The least emitting healthy diets cost ~$7/day and emit 0.7 kg CO2e, while actual choices cost ~$10 and emit 2.4 kg.
arxiv.org/abs/2505.24457
arxiv.org/abs/2505.24457
June 5, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Want a cheap & sustainable healthy diet? New preprint confirms that less expensive options generally emit less GHGs. Main exception is animal source foods. The least emitting healthy diets cost ~$7/day and emit 0.7 kg CO2e, while actual choices cost ~$10 and emit 2.4 kg.
arxiv.org/abs/2505.24457
arxiv.org/abs/2505.24457
A new paper painstakingly details how national food supplies align with nutritional needs around the world, focusing on which nutrients in what foods have and can be industrially fortified. Fortification works only in some settings, but does so at an astonishingly low cost.
ssrn.com/abstract=526...
ssrn.com/abstract=526...
May 28, 2025 at 12:44 PM
A new paper painstakingly details how national food supplies align with nutritional needs around the world, focusing on which nutrients in what foods have and can be industrially fortified. Fortification works only in some settings, but does so at an astonishingly low cost.
ssrn.com/abstract=526...
ssrn.com/abstract=526...
New article with @afinaret.bsky.social explains our #FoodEconomics book, using analytical diagrams and data visualizations to offer accessible insights for general readers, #TeachEcon instructors & students.
In AEPP (gated): doi.org/10.1002/aepp...
Preprint & resources: sites.tufts.edu/foodeconomics
In AEPP (gated): doi.org/10.1002/aepp...
Preprint & resources: sites.tufts.edu/foodeconomics
April 25, 2025 at 10:41 PM
New article with @afinaret.bsky.social explains our #FoodEconomics book, using analytical diagrams and data visualizations to offer accessible insights for general readers, #TeachEcon instructors & students.
In AEPP (gated): doi.org/10.1002/aepp...
Preprint & resources: sites.tufts.edu/foodeconomics
In AEPP (gated): doi.org/10.1002/aepp...
Preprint & resources: sites.tufts.edu/foodeconomics
New paper on "Measuring Food Access as Affordability of Least-Cost Healthy Diets" tells how this new diagnostic indicator of food security was launched in 2020, now used by FAO & World Bank + others. Deep dive into the data's context, use and limitations:
doi.org/10.1111/agec...
#TeachEcon #EconSky
doi.org/10.1111/agec...
#TeachEcon #EconSky
April 24, 2025 at 1:00 PM
New paper on "Measuring Food Access as Affordability of Least-Cost Healthy Diets" tells how this new diagnostic indicator of food security was launched in 2020, now used by FAO & World Bank + others. Deep dive into the data's context, use and limitations:
doi.org/10.1111/agec...
#TeachEcon #EconSky
doi.org/10.1111/agec...
#TeachEcon #EconSky
It's macro week in my #FoodEconomics class. We'll start with the new tariffs, then economywide balances, inflation and unemployment. Plenty of motivation to #TeachEcon at @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social now!
For #EconSky, the current account balance chart is via FRED: fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=D3IM
For #EconSky, the current account balance chart is via FRED: fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=D3IM
April 6, 2025 at 11:50 PM
It's macro week in my #FoodEconomics class. We'll start with the new tariffs, then economywide balances, inflation and unemployment. Plenty of motivation to #TeachEcon at @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social now!
For #EconSky, the current account balance chart is via FRED: fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=D3IM
For #EconSky, the current account balance chart is via FRED: fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=D3IM
...and before the rain smudged everything, in front of city hall
April 5, 2025 at 7:00 PM
...and before the rain smudged everything, in front of city hall
On Trump's tariffs, it's errors all the way down.
AEI's Kevin Corinth & Stan Veuger show how mistaken use of retail vs. trade elasticities raised "retaliatory" rates 4x:
www.aei.org/economics/pr...
Trump could fire folks, announce the fix, and limit the damage. Would be less wrong...
#TeachEcon
AEI's Kevin Corinth & Stan Veuger show how mistaken use of retail vs. trade elasticities raised "retaliatory" rates 4x:
www.aei.org/economics/pr...
Trump could fire folks, announce the fix, and limit the damage. Would be less wrong...
#TeachEcon
April 5, 2025 at 12:56 PM
On Trump's tariffs, it's errors all the way down.
AEI's Kevin Corinth & Stan Veuger show how mistaken use of retail vs. trade elasticities raised "retaliatory" rates 4x:
www.aei.org/economics/pr...
Trump could fire folks, announce the fix, and limit the damage. Would be less wrong...
#TeachEcon
AEI's Kevin Corinth & Stan Veuger show how mistaken use of retail vs. trade elasticities raised "retaliatory" rates 4x:
www.aei.org/economics/pr...
Trump could fire folks, announce the fix, and limit the damage. Would be less wrong...
#TeachEcon
Yesterday afternoon's #FoodEconomics class started with real-time reaction to the new tariffs, showing websites of media outlets like the Wall Street Journal. A student asked to see Fox News. Here's the two, live from the classroom camera around 4:30pm. One owner, two audiences. #TeachEcon #EconSky
April 4, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Yesterday afternoon's #FoodEconomics class started with real-time reaction to the new tariffs, showing websites of media outlets like the Wall Street Journal. A student asked to see Fox News. Here's the two, live from the classroom camera around 4:30pm. One owner, two audiences. #TeachEcon #EconSky
Most Americans want regulation of ultra-processed foods, and think the government should be more involved in our health.
Great data from Dan Frommer @fromedome.bsky.social:
newconsumer.com/trends/consu...
Lots to discuss in #FoodPolicy #FoodEconomics & #FoodSky @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social
Great data from Dan Frommer @fromedome.bsky.social:
newconsumer.com/trends/consu...
Lots to discuss in #FoodPolicy #FoodEconomics & #FoodSky @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social
March 9, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Most Americans want regulation of ultra-processed foods, and think the government should be more involved in our health.
Great data from Dan Frommer @fromedome.bsky.social:
newconsumer.com/trends/consu...
Lots to discuss in #FoodPolicy #FoodEconomics & #FoodSky @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social
Great data from Dan Frommer @fromedome.bsky.social:
newconsumer.com/trends/consu...
Lots to discuss in #FoodPolicy #FoodEconomics & #FoodSky @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social
PS potatoes are a hot topic for inflation dynamics (paging @dlortega.bsky.social), and a useful contrast to the periodic spike in egg prices due to inelastic demand, lack of storage or trade, & response to bird flu by culling not vax.
Egg prices: fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1E6wO
#EconSky #FoodSky
Egg prices: fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1E6wO
#EconSky #FoodSky
March 2, 2025 at 6:17 PM
PS potatoes are a hot topic for inflation dynamics (paging @dlortega.bsky.social), and a useful contrast to the periodic spike in egg prices due to inelastic demand, lack of storage or trade, & response to bird flu by culling not vax.
Egg prices: fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1E6wO
#EconSky #FoodSky
Egg prices: fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1E6wO
#EconSky #FoodSky
A striking fact about frozen potato prices is not just their smooth rise during the rapid inflation of 2022-23, but how they did not fall with raw potato prices after that.
Courts will decide if this was illegal price-fixing, but you can see the pattern here:
fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1BYEB
2/2
Courts will decide if this was illegal price-fixing, but you can see the pattern here:
fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1BYEB
2/2
March 2, 2025 at 5:51 PM
A striking fact about frozen potato prices is not just their smooth rise during the rapid inflation of 2022-23, but how they did not fall with raw potato prices after that.
Courts will decide if this was illegal price-fixing, but you can see the pattern here:
fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1BYEB
2/2
Courts will decide if this was illegal price-fixing, but you can see the pattern here:
fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1BYEB
2/2
Just spotted this license plate in Boston -- its tag line pretty well conveys the current stage of Elon Musk's careening career: "Probably on Autopilot"
February 21, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Just spotted this license plate in Boston -- its tag line pretty well conveys the current stage of Elon Musk's careening career: "Probably on Autopilot"
A new study ties the mandate for USAID to Christian faith, spread across Congressional districts in the 19th century via the YMCA etc.
U.S. commitment to foreign aid comes from the heart, and from the heartland.
Maps from @younbaek.bsky.social's new #jmp #EconSky, here: younbaek.github.io/research
U.S. commitment to foreign aid comes from the heart, and from the heartland.
Maps from @younbaek.bsky.social's new #jmp #EconSky, here: younbaek.github.io/research
February 9, 2025 at 7:58 PM
A new study ties the mandate for USAID to Christian faith, spread across Congressional districts in the 19th century via the YMCA etc.
U.S. commitment to foreign aid comes from the heart, and from the heartland.
Maps from @younbaek.bsky.social's new #jmp #EconSky, here: younbaek.github.io/research
U.S. commitment to foreign aid comes from the heart, and from the heartland.
Maps from @younbaek.bsky.social's new #jmp #EconSky, here: younbaek.github.io/research
Senator Andy Kim explains how the Trump-Musk power grab weakens America, enabling corruption at home and abroad -- for example how gutting USAID is a gift to Russia and other rivals to U.S. influence.
From convo w/ @jenrubin.bsky.social @contrariannews.org:
contrarian.substack.com/p/jen-rubin-...
From convo w/ @jenrubin.bsky.social @contrariannews.org:
contrarian.substack.com/p/jen-rubin-...
February 5, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Senator Andy Kim explains how the Trump-Musk power grab weakens America, enabling corruption at home and abroad -- for example how gutting USAID is a gift to Russia and other rivals to U.S. influence.
From convo w/ @jenrubin.bsky.social @contrariannews.org:
contrarian.substack.com/p/jen-rubin-...
From convo w/ @jenrubin.bsky.social @contrariannews.org:
contrarian.substack.com/p/jen-rubin-...