Mark G. Sheppard
@markgsheppard.com
Inequality/Mobility/Design.
Econ PhD Candidate, The Graduate Center.
Researcher @NBER.org.
2nd Lt., U.S. National Guard.
Former Congressional Staff.
Econ PhD Candidate, The Graduate Center.
Researcher @NBER.org.
2nd Lt., U.S. National Guard.
Former Congressional Staff.
Pinned
Mark G. Sheppard
@markgsheppard.com
· Dec 13
New WP "The Inequality of Recession" uses @claudia-sahm.bsky.social like rules, with thousands of subseries of unemployment, tells a consistent empirical story: recessions consistently hit some folks first.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
#EconSky #Recession
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
#EconSky #Recession
Data shows majority think the death of #ReneeNicoleGood was not justified.
January 13, 2026 at 2:51 AM
Data shows majority think the death of #ReneeNicoleGood was not justified.
I feel like someone should start an open letter of support for Powell.
I’d be willing to help, in any way i can. cc: @tderyugina.bsky.social
I’d be willing to help, in any way i can. cc: @tderyugina.bsky.social
January 12, 2026 at 5:13 PM
I feel like someone should start an open letter of support for Powell.
I’d be willing to help, in any way i can. cc: @tderyugina.bsky.social
I’d be willing to help, in any way i can. cc: @tderyugina.bsky.social
Reposted by Mark G. Sheppard
The public has supported raising taxes on the ultrarich and corporations for years, but policymakers have failed to act.
→ Raising taxes on the rich makes good economic and political sense.
EPI’s latest report from @joshbivens-econ.bsky.social 1/
→ Raising taxes on the rich makes good economic and political sense.
EPI’s latest report from @joshbivens-econ.bsky.social 1/
Raising taxes on the ultrarich: A necessary first step to restore faith in American democracy and the public sector
Summary The public has supported raising taxes on the ultrarich and corporations for years, but policymakers have not responded. Small increases in taxes on the rich that were instituted during time...
www.epi.org
November 17, 2025 at 4:23 PM
The public has supported raising taxes on the ultrarich and corporations for years, but policymakers have failed to act.
→ Raising taxes on the rich makes good economic and political sense.
EPI’s latest report from @joshbivens-econ.bsky.social 1/
→ Raising taxes on the rich makes good economic and political sense.
EPI’s latest report from @joshbivens-econ.bsky.social 1/
Reposted by Mark G. Sheppard
Breaking news: Every former Federal Reserve chief attacked the Department of Justice’s probe into US central bank head Jay Powell, accusing the Trump administration of behaving like an emerging market. ft.trib.al/aJHxEQx
January 12, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Breaking news: Every former Federal Reserve chief attacked the Department of Justice’s probe into US central bank head Jay Powell, accusing the Trump administration of behaving like an emerging market. ft.trib.al/aJHxEQx
@benzipperer.org GOAT status
You may know him as EPI's Senior Economist specializing in minimum wage, inequality, and low-wage labor markets, and mastermind behind your favorite EPI tools.
🎉 Now you can congratulate @benzipperer.org on being (a back-to-back) Siegel Research Fellow!
🎉 Now you can congratulate @benzipperer.org on being (a back-to-back) Siegel Research Fellow!
Fellows - Siegel Family Endowment
www.siegelendowment.org
January 12, 2026 at 5:07 PM
@benzipperer.org GOAT status
Reposted by Mark G. Sheppard
Some countries that have prosecuted or threatened to prosecute central bankers for the purpose of political intimidation or punishment for monetary policy decisions: Argentina, Russia, Turkey, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
January 12, 2026 at 2:01 AM
Some countries that have prosecuted or threatened to prosecute central bankers for the purpose of political intimidation or punishment for monetary policy decisions: Argentina, Russia, Turkey, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
#FederalReserve Chairman #JeromePowell says the Department of Justice served grand jury subpoenas tied to Senate Banking Committee testimony, and argues the threat is aimed at central bank independence. #EconSky
January 12, 2026 at 2:30 AM
#FederalReserve Chairman #JeromePowell says the Department of Justice served grand jury subpoenas tied to Senate Banking Committee testimony, and argues the threat is aimed at central bank independence. #EconSky
Reposted by Mark G. Sheppard
Since I started developing the mapgl R package I've envisioned built-in interactive legends.
They're finally here in the upcoming package release: a filter slider for continuous legends, and click-to-filter for categorical legends.
Blog post coming this week!
They're finally here in the upcoming package release: a filter slider for continuous legends, and click-to-filter for categorical legends.
Blog post coming this week!
January 11, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Since I started developing the mapgl R package I've envisioned built-in interactive legends.
They're finally here in the upcoming package release: a filter slider for continuous legends, and click-to-filter for categorical legends.
Blog post coming this week!
They're finally here in the upcoming package release: a filter slider for continuous legends, and click-to-filter for categorical legends.
Blog post coming this week!
Made this quick design this morning, for the simple fact that "Protest for Good" is such a marketing banger, and wanted to put this out there, in case someone needed design ideas.
#ProtestForGood
#ProtestForGood
January 10, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Made this quick design this morning, for the simple fact that "Protest for Good" is such a marketing banger, and wanted to put this out there, in case someone needed design ideas.
#ProtestForGood
#ProtestForGood
Recently, Trump has been appropriating long-running progressive policies, distorting the details and blurring the attribution of the agenda —that cross-pressures low-information voters.
Progressives must advocate for a real affordability platform that helps moderate-income folks.
#EconSky
Progressives must advocate for a real affordability platform that helps moderate-income folks.
#EconSky
January 10, 2026 at 6:17 PM
Recently, Trump has been appropriating long-running progressive policies, distorting the details and blurring the attribution of the agenda —that cross-pressures low-information voters.
Progressives must advocate for a real affordability platform that helps moderate-income folks.
#EconSky
Progressives must advocate for a real affordability platform that helps moderate-income folks.
#EconSky
Taxing billionaires is not divisive. It’s one of the most bipartisan policy proposals.
California’s divisive plan to tax billionaires ft.trib.al/9epiqYU
California’s divisive plan to tax billionaires
The proposed levy on people worth 10 figures and above has rattled Silicon Valley and split Democratic leaders
ft.trib.al
January 9, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Taxing billionaires is not divisive. It’s one of the most bipartisan policy proposals.
Reposted by Mark G. Sheppard
Developing a model in which the strength of a signal depends on multiple features of the information environment. This model explains a wide range of belief-updating patterns, from Francesca Bastianello and Alex Imas www.nber.org/papers/w34638
January 9, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Developing a model in which the strength of a signal depends on multiple features of the information environment. This model explains a wide range of belief-updating patterns, from Francesca Bastianello and Alex Imas www.nber.org/papers/w34638
Honored to get a shout-out from UC Berkeley’s Stone Center on Wealth & Income Inequality.
Huge thanks to Professors Saez and @gabrielzucman.bsky.social for the mentorship—and for building such a special community. In-person lectures from living legends was something I won't forget #EconSky
Huge thanks to Professors Saez and @gabrielzucman.bsky.social for the mentorship—and for building such a special community. In-person lectures from living legends was something I won't forget #EconSky
Stone Center sets dates for 2026 Summer Institute
The James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Center on Wealth and Income Inequality announced its plans for its 2026 Summer Institute. Each year, UC Berkeley’s prestigious institute organizes an intensive four-...
ls.berkeley.edu
January 9, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Honored to get a shout-out from UC Berkeley’s Stone Center on Wealth & Income Inequality.
Huge thanks to Professors Saez and @gabrielzucman.bsky.social for the mentorship—and for building such a special community. In-person lectures from living legends was something I won't forget #EconSky
Huge thanks to Professors Saez and @gabrielzucman.bsky.social for the mentorship—and for building such a special community. In-person lectures from living legends was something I won't forget #EconSky
Right, though these measures are supposed to be seasonally-adjusted, I worry there's a degree of under-seasonalization happening.
But also-also, more economically vulnerable groups (racial minorities, low educated, etc) tend to be underemployed. And by extension, signal downturns earlier.
But also-also, more economically vulnerable groups (racial minorities, low educated, etc) tend to be underemployed. And by extension, signal downturns earlier.
January 9, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Right, though these measures are supposed to be seasonally-adjusted, I worry there's a degree of under-seasonalization happening.
But also-also, more economically vulnerable groups (racial minorities, low educated, etc) tend to be underemployed. And by extension, signal downturns earlier.
But also-also, more economically vulnerable groups (racial minorities, low educated, etc) tend to be underemployed. And by extension, signal downturns earlier.
Using #SahmRule -style indicators with labor utilization shows a gradient: broader measures of underemployment (esp. U-6) flag rising slack—because vulnerable workers tend to be underemployed.
Web Interactive: markgsheppard.github.io/SahmRule/
🚨WP🚨 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
#JobsDay #EconSky
Web Interactive: markgsheppard.github.io/SahmRule/
🚨WP🚨 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
#JobsDay #EconSky
January 9, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Using #SahmRule -style indicators with labor utilization shows a gradient: broader measures of underemployment (esp. U-6) flag rising slack—because vulnerable workers tend to be underemployed.
Web Interactive: markgsheppard.github.io/SahmRule/
🚨WP🚨 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
#JobsDay #EconSky
Web Interactive: markgsheppard.github.io/SahmRule/
🚨WP🚨 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
#JobsDay #EconSky
Betting markets put the odds of a #GovernmentShutdown at the end of the month at ~25%, but even if Congress avoids a shutdown, repeated fiscal brinkmanship (especially with unified government) cannot become the new normal. #EconSky
kalshi.com/markets/kxgo...
kalshi.com/markets/kxgo...
January 9, 2026 at 1:38 AM
Betting markets put the odds of a #GovernmentShutdown at the end of the month at ~25%, but even if Congress avoids a shutdown, repeated fiscal brinkmanship (especially with unified government) cannot become the new normal. #EconSky
kalshi.com/markets/kxgo...
kalshi.com/markets/kxgo...
Correct.
There’s an entire empirical back-and-forth on the inflationary/disemployment effects of MW, best summed up by Dick Thaler’s IGM response ‘the effects are between small and zero’ and further, just because there’s some trade-offs to a policy doesn’t mean we shouldn’t still do it. #EconSky
There’s an entire empirical back-and-forth on the inflationary/disemployment effects of MW, best summed up by Dick Thaler’s IGM response ‘the effects are between small and zero’ and further, just because there’s some trade-offs to a policy doesn’t mean we shouldn’t still do it. #EconSky
Unsurprisingly, this WSJ op-ed gets things exactly backward.
In reality, minimum wages are one of the best ways to increase the pay of low-wage workers. Taking away their wage increases will worsen the affordability crisis.
In reality, minimum wages are one of the best ways to increase the pay of low-wage workers. Taking away their wage increases will worsen the affordability crisis.
January 8, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Correct.
There’s an entire empirical back-and-forth on the inflationary/disemployment effects of MW, best summed up by Dick Thaler’s IGM response ‘the effects are between small and zero’ and further, just because there’s some trade-offs to a policy doesn’t mean we shouldn’t still do it. #EconSky
There’s an entire empirical back-and-forth on the inflationary/disemployment effects of MW, best summed up by Dick Thaler’s IGM response ‘the effects are between small and zero’ and further, just because there’s some trade-offs to a policy doesn’t mean we shouldn’t still do it. #EconSky
No convictions will likely result from the death of #ReneeNicoleGood. Though there might be political consequences for the aggressiveness of the mass #deportation model of the administration, though also unlikely considering the speed of the news cycle.
#QualifiedImmunity #EconSky #PoliceBrutality
#QualifiedImmunity #EconSky #PoliceBrutality
January 8, 2026 at 5:25 PM
No convictions will likely result from the death of #ReneeNicoleGood. Though there might be political consequences for the aggressiveness of the mass #deportation model of the administration, though also unlikely considering the speed of the news cycle.
#QualifiedImmunity #EconSky #PoliceBrutality
#QualifiedImmunity #EconSky #PoliceBrutality
With respect to the "slow to hire/fire" rhetoric, data shows using unemployment by: race, u-measure and education, in a #SahmRule like function, by @claudia-sahm.bsky.social, shows some are consistently "first to be fired" in a downturn.
#EconSky #JOLTS
🚨New WP🚨 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
#EconSky #JOLTS
🚨New WP🚨 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
January 7, 2026 at 11:06 PM
With respect to the "slow to hire/fire" rhetoric, data shows using unemployment by: race, u-measure and education, in a #SahmRule like function, by @claudia-sahm.bsky.social, shows some are consistently "first to be fired" in a downturn.
#EconSky #JOLTS
🚨New WP🚨 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
#EconSky #JOLTS
🚨New WP🚨 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Mark G. Sheppard
Reposted by Mark G. Sheppard
Those figures are from this 2019 NYT story summarizing a wonderfully comprehensive conjoint survey experiment:
What Is Voters’ Highest Priority? There’s a Way to Find Out (Published 2019)
www.nytimes.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Those figures are from this 2019 NYT story summarizing a wonderfully comprehensive conjoint survey experiment:
A much clearer way to visualize this information is with a choropleth map instead of a dot map. Also I’m not sure why the projection distorts Alaska so much.
January 7, 2026 at 6:03 PM
A much clearer way to visualize this information is with a choropleth map instead of a dot map. Also I’m not sure why the projection distorts Alaska so much.
Reposted by Mark G. Sheppard
"Low hire, low fire" labor market continued in November: Job openings, hires, quits all down (and downward revisions to October openings). But layoffs also down. #EconSky #NumbersDay
Data: www.bls.gov/news.release...
Data: www.bls.gov/news.release...
Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary
- 2025 M11 Results
www.bls.gov
January 7, 2026 at 3:03 PM
"Low hire, low fire" labor market continued in November: Job openings, hires, quits all down (and downward revisions to October openings). But layoffs also down. #EconSky #NumbersDay
Data: www.bls.gov/news.release...
Data: www.bls.gov/news.release...
Reposted by Mark G. Sheppard
The resolution of microscopes has increased over 10,000 fold over the last 200 years.
It's allowed scientists to examine not only cells, but bacteria, then viruses, their protein structure, and, eventually, the individual atoms that comprise them.
It's allowed scientists to examine not only cells, but bacteria, then viruses, their protein structure, and, eventually, the individual atoms that comprise them.
January 7, 2026 at 4:42 PM
The resolution of microscopes has increased over 10,000 fold over the last 200 years.
It's allowed scientists to examine not only cells, but bacteria, then viruses, their protein structure, and, eventually, the individual atoms that comprise them.
It's allowed scientists to examine not only cells, but bacteria, then viruses, their protein structure, and, eventually, the individual atoms that comprise them.
Reposted by Mark G. Sheppard
California wants to tax billionaires with a 5% wealth tax and the CEO of Nvidia, who would have to pay $8 billion on his $163 billion fortune, says it like it is:
that's perfectly fine! 🧵
that's perfectly fine! 🧵
January 7, 2026 at 1:47 PM
California wants to tax billionaires with a 5% wealth tax and the CEO of Nvidia, who would have to pay $8 billion on his $163 billion fortune, says it like it is:
that's perfectly fine! 🧵
that's perfectly fine! 🧵