Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Aug 18

Registration is open for this fall's BREAD/ @theigc.bsky.social virtual development econ Ph.D. course on Social Protection! Organizers Rema Hanna (Harvard) and Ben Olken (MIT) are giving the intro lecture on Sep 16. An all-star lineup -- highly recommended!
www.theigc.org/events/bread...
#EconSky

BREAD-IGC virtual PhD course on social protection 2025

Join the BREAD-IGC virtual PhD course 2025 to deepen your understanding of social protection challenges and policies.

www.theigc.org

2 2

Econ-UPO @econupo.bsky.social · Jan 28

🚨Next @EconUpo #Seminar🚨

📄"Ancient Epics in the Television Age: Mass Media, Identity, and the Rise of Hindu Nationalism in India"

🗣️ Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social (University of Michigan)

📅Monday 3, Feb.
🕛12 noon
📍Boardroom. Building 3. @pablodeolavide.bsky.social

5 6

JB Pritzker @jbpritzker.bsky.social · Feb 7

An important announcement from the Governor of Illinois.

560 2.4K 9.5K

Phil Robertson @reaproy.bsky.social · Mar 16

Exactly right. Exactly what needs to be said, Bay Fang. Thank you for the incredible job that Radio Free Asia has done over the years. Can't believe this is the end of the story.

4

NBER @nber.org · Mar 28

A flawed education policy in the Philippines significantly reduced educational quality in grades K–3, with longer-term consequences: fewer years of schooling in upper grades, from Thomas Lloyd and @deanyang.bsky.social https://www.nber.org/papers/w33600

3 11

UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · Jun 6

👀 Smaller, lower-income countries often rue the loss of high-skilled workers who emigrate for greater opportunities, but PSC's @deanyang.bsky.social @umfordschool.bsky.social et al find this out-migration often comes with positive feedback loops for countries of origin. myumi.ch/rAwer #EconSky

As India responded to international demand for IT workers, more people acquired skills than emigrated-- raising the number of people with those skills at home.

3 11

Santiago Sanchez-Pages @sanpages.bsky.social · Jun 20

📺 ¿Puede una serie de TV cambiar la identidad de todo un país?
En @nadaesgratis.bsky.social hablo de un fascinante estudio de @deanyang.bsky.social y coautores que demuestra las pantallas no solo reflejan identidades sino que tambien las construyen.
nadaesgratis.es/santiago-san...

¿Puede una serie de televisión transformar una identidad colectiva?

En 1987, la India se paralizaba cada domingo por la mañana por un programa de televisión: Ramayan, una serie que adaptaba la epopeya hindú del mismo nombre. El programa se convirtió en un fenómeno de ...

nadaesgratis.es

1 7 8

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Jul 18

Check out the great interview with @talknormal.co.uk on @voxdev.bsky.social with my co-authors @catiabatista.bsky.social and Caroline Theoharides on our "brain gain vs. brain drain" paper!

Catia Batista @catiabatista.bsky.social · Jul 15

Thank you @talknormal.co.uk for a great conversation on the @voxdev.bsky.social podcast together with #CarolineTheoharides on our recent @science.org article.

The "brain drain" is only part of the story—skilled migration can benefit origin countries too.

🎧 voxdev.org/topic/migrat...

2 10

Catia Batista @catiabatista.bsky.social · Jul 15

Thank you @talknormal.co.uk for a great conversation on the @voxdev.bsky.social podcast together with #CarolineTheoharides on our recent @science.org article.

The "brain drain" is only part of the story—skilled migration can benefit origin countries too.

🎧 voxdev.org/topic/migrat...

1 3 13

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Jun 20

Nice piece by @sanpages.bsky.social in @nadaesgratis.bsky.social (in Spanish) on our Ramayan paper (with @resuf.bsky.social, @pbrimble.bsky.social, Alessandro Saia & Akhila Kovvuri)!
#Econsky #Ramayan

Santiago Sanchez-Pages @sanpages.bsky.social · Jun 20

📺 ¿Puede una serie de TV cambiar la identidad de todo un país?
En @nadaesgratis.bsky.social hablo de un fascinante estudio de @deanyang.bsky.social y coautores que demuestra las pantallas no solo reflejan identidades sino que tambien las construyen.
nadaesgratis.es/santiago-san...

¿Puede una serie de televisión transformar una identidad colectiva?

En 1987, la India se paralizaba cada domingo por la mañana por un programa de televisión: Ramayan, una serie que adaptaba la epopeya hindú del mismo nombre. El programa se convirtió en un fenómeno de ...

nadaesgratis.es

1 5 8

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Jun 6

Great overview by @um-psc.bsky.social of our new review in @science.org about brain gain!

#EconSky #Migration

UM Population Studies Center @um-psc.bsky.social · Jun 6

👀 Smaller, lower-income countries often rue the loss of high-skilled workers who emigrate for greater opportunities, but PSC's @deanyang.bsky.social @umfordschool.bsky.social et al find this out-migration often comes with positive feedback loops for countries of origin. myumi.ch/rAwer #EconSky

1 10

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Jun 2

All are welcome at my online presentation today at the POLECONUK Webinar! 10am US eastern, 3pm UK, 4pm CET.
Register here: sites.google.com/view/polecon...

‪@poleconukinar.bsky.social‬
#Ramayan #EconSky

1 2

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · May 30

Great book! I also thought Embassytown was mind-blowing...

1

David McKenzie @dmckenzie.bsky.social · May 27

How does high-skilled emigration affect countries of origin? I summarize our recent Science paper, &draw out lessons from where we need nuance (not all high-skilled is the same, & most studies lump together), what we don't know (especially how to do better policy) blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...

How does high-skilled emigration affect countries of origin? A new review highlights what we’ve learned and what we still don’t know

blogs.worldbank.org

1 15 26

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · May 26

With a great team of co-authors... @catiabatista.bsky.social @johanneshaushofer.com @danielhan.bsky.social @econgaurav.bsky.social @dmckenzie.bsky.social @mushfiq-econ.bsky.social #CarolineTheoharides

4

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · May 1

Paper is here
www.nber.org/papers/w33417

Ancient Epics in the Television Age: Mass Media, Identity, and the Rise of Hindu Nationalism in India

Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...

www.nber.org

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · May 1

At Princeton BREAD conference, my co-authors @pbrimble.bsky.social & Akhila Kovvuri will present our paper on the political economy impacts of the Ramayan TV show in India! 1 pm US ET, tomorrow Fri May 2.

Watch on Zoom: princeton.zoom.us/j/93399992221

ibread.org/conference/b...
#EconSky #Ramayan

BREAD Conference on Development, Princeton, May 2-3, 2025 – BREAD

ibread.org

1 3 8

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Apr 24

3) There can be big gaps between Vatican policy and actions/views of officials (bishops, priests) and congregants worldwide. Big example: Catholics widely ignore ban on contraception, and local officials de-emphasize or turn blind eye. Such gaps are impetus for change, but only under reformist popes

1

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Apr 24

2) While there are some democratic structures within the church, Popes are autocrats. Their views (conservative vs. reformist) are the prime determinant of statis or change during a papacy. John XXIII (2nd Vatican Council) was reformist; John Paul II and Benedict halted change; Francis reformist...

1

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Apr 24

Key takeaways for me as an economist:
1) There is substantial heterogeneity within the global church on liberal-conservative dimensions, for example on welcoming LGBT congregants, contraception, role of women, and priestly celibacy.
...

1

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Apr 24

As cardinals gather to elect a new pope, I found Philip Shenon's new book, "Jesus Wept," to be fascinating reading! A biography of popes and history of Catholic Church from WW2 (Pius XII) to Pope Francis. Highly recommended!
@philipshenon.bsky.social
#EconSky #Religion

1 3 7

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Apr 3

Happy to see the Ideas for India writeup of our paper (with @aneeshap.bsky.social) on the long-run development impact of India's World War II mobilization...

ideasforindia.in/topics/produ...
#Econsky #India #WorldWarII

Wartime mobilisation and economic development in India

Can temporary wartime mobilisation permanently reshape an economy? This article shows that Indian districts that received more orders related to World War II saw greater transformation from agricultur...

ideasforindia.in

4 7

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Mar 30

Paper is here:
www.nber.org/papers/w33417

Ancient Epics in the Television Age: Mass Media, Identity, and the Rise of Hindu Nationalism in India

Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...

www.nber.org

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Mar 30

I'm speaking tomorrow Mon 31 Mar at the LSE Applications Seminar. Paper is on the Ramayan TV show's impact on Hindu identity and the rise of the BJP in India... 12:00-13:30, SAL 1.04, Sir Arthur Lewis Building, LSE. Come one, come all!

cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/events/...
#EconSky #Ramayan

1 1 7

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Mar 30

New paper of mine on long run impacts of a negative shock to early (K-3) education quality in the Philippines (with my student Thomas Lloyd). Thanks to Philippine DepEd & @poverty-action.bsky.social for collaboration on this research! #EconSky #DepEd

NBER @nber.org · Mar 28

A flawed education policy in the Philippines significantly reduced educational quality in grades K–3, with longer-term consequences: fewer years of schooling in upper grades, from Thomas Lloyd and @deanyang.bsky.social https://www.nber.org/papers/w33600

1 6

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Mar 23

Dear @oxfordcsae.bsky.social participants… if anyone is looking for a drink after dinner, let’s meet at Oxford’s famed Turf Tavern (4 Bath Place) just 600 m. from the conference. Cheers! www.greeneking.co.uk/pubs/oxfords... #OxCSAE2025

The Turf Tavern Pub Restaurant in Oxford

Combining good food & drink with friendly service and inviting atmosphere at The Turf Tavern. A pub at the heart of Oxford, we cant wait to welcome you!

www.greeneking.co.uk

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Mar 23

Great job presenting, @tyentzen.bsky.social !

1 1

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Mar 23

Very excited to be at the @oxfordcsae.bsky.social conference! Come see @tyentzen.bsky.social present our paper on 7th-Day Adventists in Africa, at 11 am! #oxcsae2025

4 16

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Mar 18

Trump administration is shutting down Radio Free Asia, a U.S.-funded news organization broadcasting uncensored journalism where access to press is unfree. CEO Bay Fang rightly calls this a "reward" to dictators in Asia. Best of luck to Bay and the RFA team challenging this wrong-headed decision.

Phil Robertson @reaproy.bsky.social · Mar 16

Exactly right. Exactly what needs to be said, Bay Fang. Thank you for the incredible job that Radio Free Asia has done over the years. Can't believe this is the end of the story.

1 8

Dean Yang @deanyang.bsky.social · Mar 3

This figure is particularly compelling, showing gains for non-whites vs. whites in income and literacy...

Happy that both Eduardo and JD started this work while they were at @umich!

2