Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

LightNews

Giulia Mascagni

@giuliamascagni.bsky.social

80 followers 140 following 5 posts

Executive Director @ICTD, Research Fellow @IDS | all things tax

Economics 58%

Business 20%

more

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Giulia Mascagni @giuliamascagni.bsky.social · Aug 8

Big congratulation to my former @ids.ac.uk colleague @apvjustino.bsky.social for her appointment as the next Director of @unu-wider.bsky.social This is great news, I look forward to working together in the new capacity!

United Nations University @ununiversity.bsky.social · Aug 8

Prof. @apvjustino.bsky.social Appointed as Next Director of
@unu-wider.bsky.social

Bringing over two decades of experience researching inequality, governance and inclusive development, Prof. Justino is the first woman to lead UNU-WIDER.

Her term will begin on 1 May 2026.

ℹ️ buff.ly/R2y4ZgK

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

United Nations University @ununiversity.bsky.social · Aug 8

Prof. @apvjustino.bsky.social Appointed as Next Director of
@unu-wider.bsky.social

Bringing over two decades of experience researching inequality, governance and inclusive development, Prof. Justino is the first woman to lead UNU-WIDER.

Her term will begin on 1 May 2026.

ℹ️ buff.ly/R2y4ZgK

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Institute of Development Studies (IDS) @ids.ac.uk · May 16

The government's anti-immigration stance will make it harder to tackle challenges at home + abroad says @petertaylor-uk.bsky.social

https://researchprofessionalnews.pulse.ly/1zv7yr07qd @resprofnews.bsky.social

Migration crackdown will cut off the UK from global knowledge - Research Professional News

Government’s rhetoric undermines the ability to tackle challenges at home and abroad, says Peter Taylor

researchprofessionalnews.pulse.ly

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD) @ictdtax.bsky.social · Apr 29

Fragile contexts are home to 24% of the world’s population (1.9 billion people) and 73% of the world’s extreme poor.

Here are three reasons why donors should prioritise investment in strengthening tax systems and how to do so: ow.ly/GiMc50VJu4H

#FFD4 #PublicFinance #FragileStates

Why tax matters in fragile states and how donors can support it

In fragile and conflict-affected states, taxation is often treated as a secondary concern. But this misses a central point: taxation is not just about raising revenue, it is also foundational to the s...

Giulia Mascagni @giuliamascagni.bsky.social · Apr 26

With aid declining, FfD4 must include a concrete commitment to scale up investment in tax systems. Reaching one billion USD in aid for tax by 2030 is a credible commitment and a great investment in sustainable development. Read more here:

Institute of Development Studies (IDS) @ids.ac.uk · Apr 26

After cuts to ODA budgets, it's crucial to invest in strengthening tax systems, argues IDS researcher & Executive Director of ICTD @giuliamascagni.bsky.social 👇 #FfD4

https://ac.pulse.ly/y0ubtyzuhc

With aid declining, FfD4 must include concrete commitment to scale up investment in tax systems - Institute of Development Studies

Researcher calls for scaled up investment in tax systems ahead of the major Fundraising for Development conference in Spain.

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Institute of Development Studies (IDS) @ids.ac.uk · Apr 26

After cuts to ODA budgets, it's crucial to invest in strengthening tax systems, argues IDS researcher & Executive Director of ICTD @giuliamascagni.bsky.social 👇 #FfD4

https://ac.pulse.ly/y0ubtyzuhc

With aid declining, FfD4 must include concrete commitment to scale up investment in tax systems - Institute of Development Studies

Researcher calls for scaled up investment in tax systems ahead of the major Fundraising for Development conference in Spain.

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Scuola Normale Superiore @sns.it · Apr 25

With the words with which Sandro Pertini, seventh President of the Italian Republic, proclaimed the general strike from Radio Milano Libera, we wish you all a happy 80th anniversary of the #Liberation from Nazi-Fascism and sundry 🌹

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Columbia University Press @columbiaup.bsky.social · Apr 24

We are delighted to announce that Max Gallien has been named as the recipient of the 2025 APSA-IPSA Theodore J. Lowi First Book Award for his first book titled SMUGGLERS AND STATES. buff.ly/4G316B6 @maxgallien.bsky.social @ipsa.org @apsa.bsky.social

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

David Mack @davidmackau.bsky.social · Apr 19

www.nytimes.com/2025/04/19/w...

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni, Jen Nelles

Prof Dynarski @dynarski.bsky.social · Apr 17

Resistance with slides:

when presenting scientific evidence created by federal data and/or $

tell your audience what they won’t be seeing more of

Slides templates here

https://sites.google.com/view/tobeclear/

ToBeClear
It is important for researchers to be clear,
factual, and transparent about how federal
priorities are affecting research. We therefore
want to acknowledge that this work has been
impacted by recent United States federal
executive actions.
This research has been affected by U.S. federal executive actions.
Data removed that was used for this study
• Example #1
• Example #2
• Example #3
Image
Image
This research has been affected by U.S. federal executive actions.
Data at risk from lack of updating or maintenance due to cuts
in personnel or funding used in this study
• Example #1
• Example #2
• Example #3
• Example #4
• Sub example
• Sub Example
• Sub example
• Example #5

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Tanya Bandula-Irwin @tbandulairwin.bsky.social · Mar 30

Spent the last two days in deep conversation about tax and conflict with this brilliant group in Helsinki, @unu-wider.bsky.social. More on our meeting and work here! www.wider.unu.edu/event/tax-co...

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD) @ictdtax.bsky.social · Mar 28

It’s time for a broader, bolder feminist fiscal agenda, argue
Caren Grown, @giuliamascagni.bsky.social & @rhiannoncm.bsky.social.

🚺 Today's @un-ecosoc.bsky.social meeting on #gender and #tax is a key opportunity to move in this direction.

READ 👉 ow.ly/CejT50Vqixp

#IWD2025 @brookings.edu

Time for a broader, bolder approach to tax justice for women - ICTD

As policymakers gather to discuss gender and tax at the UN today, this blog draws on research to call for moving beyond a narrow focus on gender bias in tax policy toward a broader, more effective fem...

Reposted by İhsan Yılmaz, Benny Geys, Darren G. Lilleker , and 9 more İhsan Yılmaz, Benny Geys, Darren G. Lilleker, Sarah J. Schoppe‐Sullivan, Jörg Oechssler, Erik Bleich, William F. Lamb, Mathias Frisch, Andrew M. Penner, Giulia Mascagni, Alexandra Filindra, Florian Mussgnug

Timothy Snyder @timothysnyder.bsky.social · Mar 24

If you accept that non-citizens have no right to due process, you are accepting that citizens have no right to due process. All the government has to do is claim that you are not a citizen; without due process you have no chance to prove the contrary.

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Khoa @khoavuumn.bsky.social · Mar 25

I accidentally sent out my LaTeX preamble to my group chat.

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD) @ictdtax.bsky.social · Mar 25

Faced with some of the worse #debt levels in over a decade, #African countries will likely need to increase their revenue sources to balance the books. What about starting by looking at #tax contributions from #wealthycitizens?

theconversation.com/wealthy-afri...

Wealthy Africans often don’t pay tax: the answer lies in smarter collection - expert

African countries need to implement effective approaches to ensure wealthy citizens make a bigger tax contribution.

theconversation.com

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Rasmus Corlin Christensen @phdskat.org · Mar 25

Reminder that in recent history, a 10% drop in tax revenue, anywhere in the developed world, has basically only happened during the global financial crisis

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Innovations for Poverty Action @poverty-action.bsky.social · Mar 24

Hello, World! IPA is now on BlueSky.
Bringing evidence, conversations, and the latest from #GlobalDev. Join us as we explore what works—and what doesn’t—to improve lives.
Follow along for research, RCTs, and impact in action.
#EconSky #Development #ImpactEvaluation #PovertyReduction

a black screen with white text that says " helloworld "

ALT: a black screen with white text that says " helloworld "

media.tenor.com

Reposted by Arnab Bhattacharjee, Giulia Mascagni

Justin Wolfers @justinwolfers.bsky.social · Mar 19

If econ memes had a Nobel Prize, @khoavuumn.bsky.social would have won it by popular acclaim. He's beloved in our community of online economists for his kindness and wit. Definite follow.

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Michael E. Mann @michaelemann.bsky.social · Mar 8

"Crowds Stand Up for Science Across the United States" by Kimberly M. S. Cartier, Emily Dieckmann, Jennifer Schmidt and Grace van Deelen for @agu.org. #Eos:

eos.org/articles/cro...

Crowds Stand Up for Science Across the United States - Eos

Funding freezes, firings, and censorship have sent shockwaves through the science community since January. Scientists and supporters are standing up in defense.

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

itaxjournal.bsky.social @itaxjournal.bsky.social · Mar 4

Can taxpayer education improve compliance? Evidence from Rwanda shows that training new taxpayers significantly increases filing, reduces zero-tax reporting, and boosts tax due. Effects persist over time, driven by lower compliance costs and better tax knowledge.

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

birgitt.bsky.social @birgitt.bsky.social · Mar 2

Gift link: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

The People Carrying Out Musk’s Plans at DOGE (Gift Article)

The Times identified 50 people within the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, a group formed by Elon Musk that in a short few weeks has radically upended federal agencies.

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Ryan Mac 🙃 @rmac.bsky.social · Feb 28

To go along with our piece today, we published an extensive list of folks associated with DOGE. It builds off and adds to the strong work that Wired, WaPo, ProPublica and other pubs have been doing.

The public has a right to know who is dismantling the government.

www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Who Is in DOGE? Tracking Its Staffers and Allies in the Federal Government

The Times identified 49 people within the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, a group formed by Elon Musk that in a short few weeks has radically upended federal agencies.

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Dani Rodrik @drodrik.bsky.social · Feb 28

Utterly disgraceful youtube.com/watch?v=uqOO...

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

The Daily Beast @thedailybeast.bsky.social · Feb 28

Elon Musk falsely accused prominent lawyer and CNN legal analyst Norm Eisen of leading a “crime family” after he discovered a woman with the same last name who worked for an organization that accepted funds from USAID.

The only problem? The woman, Tamar Eisen, is of no relation to Norm Eisen.

Musk Makes Big Mistake While Trying to Smear CNN Legal Analyst

The billionaire DOGE chief found a woman with the same last name as a lawyer he hates. Cue the conspiracy.

www.thedailybeast.com

Reposted by Stefan Dercon, Giulia Mascagni

ciffchild.bsky.social @ciffchild.bsky.social · Feb 28

Our letter to the Prime Minister expressing deep concern regarding his decision to cut ODA.

This will have a direct and devastating impact on the lives of millions. The aid budget is an important instrument for long-term stability and economic partnership. We hope the government will reconsider.

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Lyla Mehta @lylamehta.bsky.social · Feb 26

Starmer’s govt promised to restore the aid budget to 0.7%. Now it’s been slashed to 0.3% ostensibly due defense.

Increasing wealth tax could open up funds for aid & public spending. But they’d rather follow Trump & increase vulnerabilities of the poor.
#UKAID

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Starmer’s cuts are a huge mistake – foreign aid is an investment, not an expense | Halima Begum

At the height of the cold war, the west advanced its soft power through aid and development spending. If we cut that now, who will fill the vacuum?, asks Halima Begum of Oxfam

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Lee Crawfurd @leecrawfurd.bsky.social · Feb 25

Keir Starmer on 2021 aid cuts:

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Institute of Development Studies (IDS) @ids.ac.uk · Feb 25

@petertaylor-uk.bsky.social IDS Director on UK's aid cut:
"This reduction in aid of billions of pounds in real terms is a disappointing and short-sighted move from the Labour Government.

Increasing spending on defence should not come at the expense of development."

www.ids.ac.uk/press-releas...

‘Devastating blow’ to UK’s aid budget - Institute of Development Studies

In response to the Prime Minister’s announcement to cut the overseas development assistance from 0.5 percent to 0.3 percent of GNI by 2027 to fund the increased defence budget, Professor Peter Taylor,...

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Max Gallien @maxgallien.bsky.social · Feb 24

📖 🚣 📖 Two more book talks coming up:
If you're at Oxford or Cambridge in March, I'll be popping over to chat about "Smugglers and States - Negotiating the Maghreb at its Margins"!
🗓️ OX: 4 March, 17:00 (St Antony's / MEC)
🗓️ CAM: 13 March, 15:00 (CDS SG1/2)
Details below:

Reposted by Giulia Mascagni

Sarah Quinn @sarahquinn.bsky.social · Feb 13

This is a trick question. A sociological finding doesn't count as a breakthrough until an economist rediscovers it.

Laura K. Nelson @lauraknelson.bsky.social · Feb 12

Ok sociology, what do you think are genuine breakthroughs that our field has made. Contributions that might convince skeptical but sympathetic *academics* (not the public) of the value of our field? I'll brainstorm some of mine in the thread - I treat sociology very broadly