James Feigenbaum
@jamesfeigenbaum.bsky.social
Assistant Professor of Economics at Boston University | Economic History, Labor, Inequality
https://jamesfeigenbaum.github.io/
https://jamesfeigenbaum.github.io/
Yeah, who has time for arguing with anonymous rando trolls on the internet? I have referee reports to respond to. Wait a minute...
Nah, the internet is full of rando trolls. That’s not specific to this site.
The issue here is the number of grown-adults (accomplished even) who need to be reminded to block/ignore these accounts. You’re really going to spend your day arguing with “Lisasmuffins?” That’s on you.
The issue here is the number of grown-adults (accomplished even) who need to be reminded to block/ignore these accounts. You’re really going to spend your day arguing with “Lisasmuffins?” That’s on you.
this site seems to genuinely have an issue with viewing explanation as a form of endorsement
January 18, 2026 at 6:26 PM
Yeah, who has time for arguing with anonymous rando trolls on the internet? I have referee reports to respond to. Wait a minute...
Reposted by James Feigenbaum
Everyone talks about the "credibility revolution", but I think one of the most valuable shifts in econ over the last decade has been the rise of rigorous descriptive historical work like this in top journals:
Recently accepted by #QJE, “The Price of Housing in the United States, 1890–2006,” by Lyons (@ronanlyons), Shertzer (@econhist-allday), Gray (@econhistoryorbust), and Agorastos: doi.org/10.1093/qje/...
The Price of Housing in the United States, 1890–2006*
Abstract. We construct the first annual market rent and home sales price series for American cities over the 20th century using 2.7 million newspaper real
doi.org
January 18, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Everyone talks about the "credibility revolution", but I think one of the most valuable shifts in econ over the last decade has been the rise of rigorous descriptive historical work like this in top journals:
People watching movies on Netflix sound a lot like economists at seminars
January 17, 2026 at 8:38 PM
People watching movies on Netflix sound a lot like economists at seminars
I thought I tasted that sweet Canadian hydropower when the heat pump turned on this morning
After 10 years of controversy, lawsuits, and even a ballot referendum, the New England Clean Energy Connect is up and running 🔌
With a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, the new line can satisfy 20% of Massachusetts' electricity needs. www.wbur.org/news/2026/01... @wbur.org #energysky
With a capacity of 1,200 megawatts, the new line can satisfy 20% of Massachusetts' electricity needs. www.wbur.org/news/2026/01... @wbur.org #energysky
A decade in the making, clean energy power line for Mass. is up and running
A major new transmission line that can bring renewable electricity from Quebec to Massachusetts is finally, after a whole lot of controversy and delay, starting to deliver power.
www.wbur.org
January 16, 2026 at 4:34 PM
I thought I tasted that sweet Canadian hydropower when the heat pump turned on this morning
Reposted by James Feigenbaum
Nobody:
Economists using stated preferences:
Economists using stated preferences:
January 15, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Nobody:
Economists using stated preferences:
Economists using stated preferences:
Reposted by James Feigenbaum
Dissertation fellowship applications due today!
Applications for the Economic History Association Graduate Dissertation Fellowships are due in two days (January 14)
eh.net/graduate-dis...
eh.net/graduate-dis...
Graduate Dissertation Fellowships – EH.net
eh.net
January 14, 2026 at 5:45 AM
Dissertation fellowship applications due today!
The MTA taking Phil Eng from us would be Clemens and Boggs and Damon to the Yankees, all in one
Can we convince her to fire the MTA top brass she inherited from Cuomo and replace them with transit experts? I’m not gonna name names, but you know the two I’m talking about
Hochul becoming a transit governor is one of the most startling face turns in US politics since Bill Kristol effectively joined DSA
January 13, 2026 at 3:55 PM
The MTA taking Phil Eng from us would be Clemens and Boggs and Damon to the Yankees, all in one
Reposted by James Feigenbaum
A week ago, I gave the “Recent Developments in the Political Economy of Elections and Democracy” lecture at the 2026 AEA @assameeting.bsky.social !
Video: www.aeaweb.org/webcasts/202...
Slides: www.vincentpons.org/recent-devel...
Thread with the TL;DR of my talk below.
Video: www.aeaweb.org/webcasts/202...
Slides: www.vincentpons.org/recent-devel...
Thread with the TL;DR of my talk below.
January 13, 2026 at 1:39 PM
A week ago, I gave the “Recent Developments in the Political Economy of Elections and Democracy” lecture at the 2026 AEA @assameeting.bsky.social !
Video: www.aeaweb.org/webcasts/202...
Slides: www.vincentpons.org/recent-devel...
Thread with the TL;DR of my talk below.
Video: www.aeaweb.org/webcasts/202...
Slides: www.vincentpons.org/recent-devel...
Thread with the TL;DR of my talk below.
For the morning crowd #econsky and 🗃
Applications for the Economic History Association Graduate Dissertation Fellowships are due in two days (January 14)
eh.net/graduate-dis...
eh.net/graduate-dis...
Graduate Dissertation Fellowships – EH.net
eh.net
January 13, 2026 at 1:45 PM
For the morning crowd #econsky and 🗃
Applications for the Economic History Association Graduate Dissertation Fellowships are due in two days (January 14)
eh.net/graduate-dis...
eh.net/graduate-dis...
Graduate Dissertation Fellowships – EH.net
eh.net
January 13, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Applications for the Economic History Association Graduate Dissertation Fellowships are due in two days (January 14)
eh.net/graduate-dis...
eh.net/graduate-dis...
Applications for the Economic History Association Graduate Dissertation Fellowships are due in two days (January 14)
eh.net/graduate-dis...
eh.net/graduate-dis...
Graduate Dissertation Fellowships – EH.net
eh.net
January 13, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Applications for the Economic History Association Graduate Dissertation Fellowships are due in two days (January 14)
eh.net/graduate-dis...
eh.net/graduate-dis...
@asteinlight.bsky.social and I are hanging a four x three grid of small picture frames on a wall of our 1890s house where nothing is level. Fun way to speed run divorce, don't recommend
January 12, 2026 at 9:15 PM
@asteinlight.bsky.social and I are hanging a four x three grid of small picture frames on a wall of our 1890s house where nothing is level. Fun way to speed run divorce, don't recommend
There are people in my neighborhood who I do not want to know
January 10, 2026 at 6:02 PM
There are people in my neighborhood who I do not want to know
Reposted by James Feigenbaum
As an editor I mostly endorse. If you need to display some equations by all means send a pdf, but I see lots of pdf reports that would be just fine (and avoid some minor hassle) if just submitted as plain text.
To the too many of you still writing your referee reports in word or pdf or latex... why?
January 9, 2026 at 5:49 PM
As an editor I mostly endorse. If you need to display some equations by all means send a pdf, but I see lots of pdf reports that would be just fine (and avoid some minor hassle) if just submitted as plain text.
To the too many of you still writing your referee reports in word or pdf or latex... why?
January 9, 2026 at 5:17 PM
To the too many of you still writing your referee reports in word or pdf or latex... why?
I'm growing increasingly worried about the work-life balance of Evelyn Martin, the fake name this robocall scammer is using today
January 9, 2026 at 3:18 AM
I'm growing increasingly worried about the work-life balance of Evelyn Martin, the fake name this robocall scammer is using today
Yes, you people need to keep this kind of awkward antisocial behavior where it belongs: academic conferences
Finally, it's wrong AS A MATTER OF ETIQUETTE. Entering a total stranger's discussion and leading with your private anxiety is as off-putting in social media replies as it would be in real life. If you wouldn't interrupt a stranger at a party to announce that America is doomed, don't do it here.
January 9, 2026 at 2:53 AM
Yes, you people need to keep this kind of awkward antisocial behavior where it belongs: academic conferences
MBTA Communities Act 2.0 should include several sections dedicated to eliminating all the BS that enabled the near decade delay in this project #mapoli
The 7-year “Weston Whopper” saga grinds on.
A Superior Court judge has rejected the Weston ZBA’s appeal, upholding the State’s Housing Appeal Committee’s approval of a 180-unit Chapter 40B project on 10 acres. This was originally filed in 2019 with 275-units.
📍Weston, MA
A Superior Court judge has rejected the Weston ZBA’s appeal, upholding the State’s Housing Appeal Committee’s approval of a 180-unit Chapter 40B project on 10 acres. This was originally filed in 2019 with 275-units.
📍Weston, MA
January 8, 2026 at 9:44 PM
MBTA Communities Act 2.0 should include several sections dedicated to eliminating all the BS that enabled the near decade delay in this project #mapoli
Surely things are very different here in Newton with all the important work the NIMBYS on our city council have done on affordability
You probably know intuitively or anecdotally that it's expensive to buy a house in Brookline. But I think the numbers we dug up, based on the last 12 months of home and condo sale data, will still surprise.
brookline.news/600k-down-pa...
brookline.news/600k-down-pa...
$600k down payments and all-cash offers: How money up front rules Brookline's housing market - Brookline.News
New data collected by Brookline.News illustrate the steep cash-in-hand costs for prospective homebuyers in Brookline.
brookline.news
January 8, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Surely things are very different here in Newton with all the important work the NIMBYS on our city council have done on affordability
Another W for economic history
“These findings provide clear evidence that data collected on MTurk simply cannot be trusted.”
January 8, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Another W for economic history
This one's in the middle of nowhere, but every public golf course inside 495 should be converted to dense multifamily housing #mapoli
A solar developer has paid nearly $25 million to buy a public golf course in Massachusetts, with a plan to close the course and install a 30-megawatt solar array. on.nbcboston.com/Zgxp1nv
Mass. golf course sold for 30-megawatt solar project
Mass. golf course sold for 30-megawatt solar project
on.nbcboston.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:45 PM
This one's in the middle of nowhere, but every public golf course inside 495 should be converted to dense multifamily housing #mapoli
Is it fun to get destroyed in two consecutive Senate general elections? Would you pay for the privilege? #mapoli
DEATON + MASSGOP: John Deaton, a Republican running for U.S. Senate, donated more than $346K to the MassGOP to pay off outstanding debts, just weeks after the party voted to give him a key endorsement in his campaign for elected office. #mapoli www.wbur.org/news/2026/01...
U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton pays off $346k in MassGOP debt
The Republican from Bolton donated more than $346,000 to the Massachusetts Republican Party to pay off outstanding debts weeks after the party voted to give him a key endorsement in his campaign for e...
www.wbur.org
January 6, 2026 at 11:34 AM
Is it fun to get destroyed in two consecutive Senate general elections? Would you pay for the privilege? #mapoli
Wasting no time to launch terrible ideas: Three of Newton's NIMBYest city councilors want to "suspend or change the VCOD zoning for Auburndale and West Newton until work has begun on those two commuter rail stations" #mapoli
www.newtonbeacon.org/letter-to-th...
www.newtonbeacon.org/letter-to-th...
Letter to the Editor: Shoot yourself in the foot why don’t you? - Newton Beacon
Dear Editor, Councilors Block, Farrell and Malakie already submitted a docket item to the City Council to suspend or change the VCOD zoning for Auburndale and West Newton until work has begun on those...
www.newtonbeacon.org
January 6, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Wasting no time to launch terrible ideas: Three of Newton's NIMBYest city councilors want to "suspend or change the VCOD zoning for Auburndale and West Newton until work has begun on those two commuter rail stations" #mapoli
www.newtonbeacon.org/letter-to-th...
www.newtonbeacon.org/letter-to-th...
Reposted by James Feigenbaum
For those who attended the Jan 3 and 4 sessions at #assa2026 and want a copy of the slides, or those who couldn't make it:
Jan 3: Reproducibility from Day 1 larsvilhuber.github.io/day1-tutorial/
Jan 3: Reproducibility from Day 1 larsvilhuber.github.io/day1-tutorial/
Reproducibility from Day 1
larsvilhuber.github.io
January 6, 2026 at 2:51 AM
For those who attended the Jan 3 and 4 sessions at #assa2026 and want a copy of the slides, or those who couldn't make it:
Jan 3: Reproducibility from Day 1 larsvilhuber.github.io/day1-tutorial/
Jan 3: Reproducibility from Day 1 larsvilhuber.github.io/day1-tutorial/
Reposted by James Feigenbaum
The Kinsley gaffe to end all Kinsley gaffes
Copy Editing Matters, from HHS's release on the new childhood vaccine schedule: All the diseases will still be available to anyone who wants them
January 6, 2026 at 2:21 AM
The Kinsley gaffe to end all Kinsley gaffes