Bitsy Perlman
@bitsyperlman.bsky.social
Economic Historian at the Census. 19th & 21st C innovation, sci of sci, urban/spatial, info spread. All views are my own or expressed for rhetorical exposition. Posts before 2025 were imported. (they/them)
Brookline, MA
Brookline, MA
I appreciated the reflection on how insane 18th and 19th century science seemed. What do you mean you put a dog's brain into a rabbit's brain? Wait, you are carefully observing a sealed dead eel?
Imagine you lived in the 18th century.
Smallpox kills 1 in 3 cases. Yet you can’t culture pathogens, don’t know germ theory, and have no idea what a virus is. How would you invent a vaccine?
In a new episode of HARD DRUGS, we trace the history of vaccines!
Smallpox kills 1 in 3 cases. Yet you can’t culture pathogens, don’t know germ theory, and have no idea what a virus is. How would you invent a vaccine?
In a new episode of HARD DRUGS, we trace the history of vaccines!
The history of vaccines
open.spotify.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:49 PM
I appreciated the reflection on how insane 18th and 19th century science seemed. What do you mean you put a dog's brain into a rabbit's brain? Wait, you are carefully observing a sealed dead eel?
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
This is...sort of brilliant.
November 19, 2025 at 12:56 PM
This is...sort of brilliant.
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
🚨We analyzed 138 million geocoded property tax records to quantify how municipal boundaries spatially overlap onto economic segregation in every US metro area—creating disparities in localities’ ability to fund public goods. And we made an interactive map of our results! [1/16]
November 24, 2025 at 4:31 PM
🚨We analyzed 138 million geocoded property tax records to quantify how municipal boundaries spatially overlap onto economic segregation in every US metro area—creating disparities in localities’ ability to fund public goods. And we made an interactive map of our results! [1/16]
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
I feel like we need to stop saying "AI slop is overrunning the web" and instead say "people are flooding the web with AI slop."
PEOPLE use AI tools to do this crap. AI is not some unstoppable force of nature. It's a tool that makes it way too easy for people to indulge their worst impulses.
PEOPLE use AI tools to do this crap. AI is not some unstoppable force of nature. It's a tool that makes it way too easy for people to indulge their worst impulses.
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
AI Slop Recipes Are Taking Over the Internet -- And Thanksgiving Dinner
Food bloggers see traffic dip as home cooks turn to AI, inspired by impossible pictures
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I feel like we need to stop saying "AI slop is overrunning the web" and instead say "people are flooding the web with AI slop."
PEOPLE use AI tools to do this crap. AI is not some unstoppable force of nature. It's a tool that makes it way too easy for people to indulge their worst impulses.
PEOPLE use AI tools to do this crap. AI is not some unstoppable force of nature. It's a tool that makes it way too easy for people to indulge their worst impulses.
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
“WASHINGTON—Citing that a majority of Americans are irresponsible, easily distracted people who have little regard for other human beings, a new Dept of Transportation report revealed that it’s ‘actually kind of crazy’ that U.S. citizens are allowed to drive automobiles.”
The Onion strikes again.
The Onion strikes again.
Report: It Pretty Incredible That Americans Entrusted With Driving Cars
WASHINGTON—Citing that a majority of Americans are irresponsible, easily distracted people who have little regard for other human beings, a new Department of Transportation report revealed Wednesday t...
theonion.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:46 AM
“WASHINGTON—Citing that a majority of Americans are irresponsible, easily distracted people who have little regard for other human beings, a new Dept of Transportation report revealed that it’s ‘actually kind of crazy’ that U.S. citizens are allowed to drive automobiles.”
The Onion strikes again.
The Onion strikes again.
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
As a post-doc I remember noticing that the parking garage was free, but the gym cost money.
What you subsidize is what people will do!
What you subsidize is what people will do!
University students who were provided with a free gym card (in a randomized experiment) exercised more and had a significant improvement in academic performance. The treated students were also less likely to drop out of classes
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10....
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10....
University of Chicago Press Journals: Cookie absent
www.journals.uchicago.edu
November 24, 2025 at 9:34 PM
As a post-doc I remember noticing that the parking garage was free, but the gym cost money.
What you subsidize is what people will do!
What you subsidize is what people will do!
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
I'm John Fallon, a labor economist on the job market. My JMP uncovers something wild: when chiropractors got licensed in the early 1900s, medical boards responded by making it HARDER to become a doctor.
Why would competition lead to stricter regulations?
🧵
john-fallon-econ.com
(1/9)
Why would competition lead to stricter regulations?
🧵
john-fallon-econ.com
(1/9)
November 24, 2025 at 8:37 PM
I'm John Fallon, a labor economist on the job market. My JMP uncovers something wild: when chiropractors got licensed in the early 1900s, medical boards responded by making it HARDER to become a doctor.
Why would competition lead to stricter regulations?
🧵
john-fallon-econ.com
(1/9)
Why would competition lead to stricter regulations?
🧵
john-fallon-econ.com
(1/9)
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
NEW: The Census Bureau's new acting chief information officer is John Studds, who has replaced Michael Thieme, according to the agency's website
www.census.gov/about/leader...
www.census.gov/about/leader...
November 21, 2025 at 9:48 PM
NEW: The Census Bureau's new acting chief information officer is John Studds, who has replaced Michael Thieme, according to the agency's website
www.census.gov/about/leader...
www.census.gov/about/leader...
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
Finally, some data!
U.S. employers added 119,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4 percent.
Data: www.bls.gov/news.release...
Live coverage: www.nytimes.com/live/2025/bu...
#NumbersDay
U.S. employers added 119,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4 percent.
Data: www.bls.gov/news.release...
Live coverage: www.nytimes.com/live/2025/bu...
#NumbersDay
Employment Situation Summary
- 2025 M09 Results
www.bls.gov
November 20, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Finally, some data!
U.S. employers added 119,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4 percent.
Data: www.bls.gov/news.release...
Live coverage: www.nytimes.com/live/2025/bu...
#NumbersDay
U.S. employers added 119,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4 percent.
Data: www.bls.gov/news.release...
Live coverage: www.nytimes.com/live/2025/bu...
#NumbersDay
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
BLS confirms that October jobs report will not be released, but that October payroll numbers will be published with the November report
November 19, 2025 at 5:46 PM
BLS confirms that October jobs report will not be released, but that October payroll numbers will be published with the November report
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
For household surveys that only collect householder information (e.g. the SCF, HVS), claims like "Millennials are doing better than previous generations" are just picking up increasingly positively selected householders if household formation differs across generations and is related to resources
November 19, 2025 at 1:33 AM
For household surveys that only collect householder information (e.g. the SCF, HVS), claims like "Millennials are doing better than previous generations" are just picking up increasingly positively selected householders if household formation differs across generations and is related to resources
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
While everyone is still digesting how it feels to not see a Sept jobs report until late November, remember this feeling the next time folks complain about monthly revisions and suggest publishing data with a 2 or 3 month lag.
November 18, 2025 at 12:04 AM
While everyone is still digesting how it feels to not see a Sept jobs report until late November, remember this feeling the next time folks complain about monthly revisions and suggest publishing data with a 2 or 3 month lag.
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
#BrooklineTownMeeting begins tomorrow night! I've written a guide to all the items on the agenda: bit.ly/fall2025brooklineTM
Always happy to see @brooklinenews.bsky.social's coverage, too -- though some of the information in the linked article is already out of date as TMMs file last-minute changes
Always happy to see @brooklinenews.bsky.social's coverage, too -- though some of the information in the linked article is already out of date as TMMs file last-minute changes
November 17, 2025 at 5:23 PM
#BrooklineTownMeeting begins tomorrow night! I've written a guide to all the items on the agenda: bit.ly/fall2025brooklineTM
Always happy to see @brooklinenews.bsky.social's coverage, too -- though some of the information in the linked article is already out of date as TMMs file last-minute changes
Always happy to see @brooklinenews.bsky.social's coverage, too -- though some of the information in the linked article is already out of date as TMMs file last-minute changes
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
Well, this is timely.
📣 New NBER Working Paper out today 📣
"The Consequences of Faculty Sexual Misconduct"
Sarah Cohodes & Katherine Leu
"The Consequences of Faculty Sexual Misconduct"
Sarah Cohodes & Katherine Leu
November 16, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Well, this is timely.
Enough uncomfortable things happen to me at conferences when I was in my 20s...
(not this man, fwiw)
(not this man, fwiw)
The emails have Summers reporting to Epstein about his attempts to date a Harvard economics student & to hit on her during a seminar she was giving.
November 16, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Enough uncomfortable things happen to me at conferences when I was in my 20s...
(not this man, fwiw)
(not this man, fwiw)
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
So many female (especially grad) students have stories about a creepy, inappropriate professor like this. I have stories circa 1994. Reporting them went nowhere and often meant you would be shut out of important opportunities. I hope this young woman is kicking ass today and never looked back.
The emails have Summers reporting to Epstein about his attempts to date a Harvard economics student & to hit on her during a seminar she was giving.
November 15, 2025 at 11:56 PM
So many female (especially grad) students have stories about a creepy, inappropriate professor like this. I have stories circa 1994. Reporting them went nowhere and often meant you would be shut out of important opportunities. I hope this young woman is kicking ass today and never looked back.
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
The emails have Summers reporting to Epstein about his attempts to date a Harvard economics student & to hit on her during a seminar she was giving.
November 15, 2025 at 9:48 PM
The emails have Summers reporting to Epstein about his attempts to date a Harvard economics student & to hit on her during a seminar she was giving.
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
Raphael Bostic at #appam2025 on his journey to becoming President of the Atlanta Federal Reserve - notes that he almost quit grad school multiple times, because “it is hard”: up to that point you are absorbing information as a student - in grad school you are a producer of information.
November 14, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Raphael Bostic at #appam2025 on his journey to becoming President of the Atlanta Federal Reserve - notes that he almost quit grad school multiple times, because “it is hard”: up to that point you are absorbing information as a student - in grad school you are a producer of information.
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
Very important initiative considering the government cant figure out the unemployment rate for October.
NBER grants to fund research into economic measurement - I find this agenda very compelling and important #linkoftheday
www.nber.org/news/nber-la...
www.nber.org/news/nber-la...
November 13, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Very important initiative considering the government cant figure out the unemployment rate for October.
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
I’m excited to share that my dissertation, Military Manpower Policy and Women’s Labor Market Outcomes, received an Honorable Mention for the 2025 Upjohn Institute Dissertation Award.
Announcement: www.upjohn.org/Upjohn-Insti...
@upjohninstitute.bsky.social
Announcement: www.upjohn.org/Upjohn-Insti...
@upjohninstitute.bsky.social
Upjohn Institute announces 2025 Dissertation Award honorees
www.upjohn.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:38 AM
I’m excited to share that my dissertation, Military Manpower Policy and Women’s Labor Market Outcomes, received an Honorable Mention for the 2025 Upjohn Institute Dissertation Award.
Announcement: www.upjohn.org/Upjohn-Insti...
@upjohninstitute.bsky.social
Announcement: www.upjohn.org/Upjohn-Insti...
@upjohninstitute.bsky.social
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
November 13, 2025 at 10:31 PM
A bad thing is unfolding at NIH this week: It looks like the Trump administration is trying to replace key civil servant scientific leaders, the Institute Directors, with political hires. These directors control the NIH budget, tens of billions.
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
A bit of a video explainer here: 1/ 🧪
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:03 AM
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
I have the most wonderful story for you all today: baby alligator spotted in Charles River, then immediately rescued by local reptile enthusiast
November 14, 2025 at 4:10 AM
I have the most wonderful story for you all today: baby alligator spotted in Charles River, then immediately rescued by local reptile enthusiast
Poll: an excitement terms how many ACS selections is a Gallup Panel selection worth? (Can be less than 1)
November 13, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Poll: an excitement terms how many ACS selections is a Gallup Panel selection worth? (Can be less than 1)
Reposted by Bitsy Perlman
All of BLS has been furloughed since October 1st. That means no one was collecting data in Oct. You can’t just walk into a Costco in mid-November and find out what the price of a good was in October. That’s why an October CPI isn’t possible.
October jobs data may never be released, White House says
October jobs data may never be released, White House says
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has been unable to collect price data and employment information during the record-breaking government shutdown.
dlvr.it
November 12, 2025 at 8:25 PM
All of BLS has been furloughed since October 1st. That means no one was collecting data in Oct. You can’t just walk into a Costco in mid-November and find out what the price of a good was in October. That’s why an October CPI isn’t possible.