Michael Clemens
@mclem.org
Professor of economics at George Mason University, fellow at the Peterson Institute of International Economics, IZA, CReAM/UCL, CEPR, CGD. Associate Editor JEP. USAID 2021–2024. Personal views exclusively.
Web: http://mclem.org
ORCID: 0000-0003-1354-0965
Web: http://mclem.org
ORCID: 0000-0003-1354-0965
Pinned
Michael Clemens
@mclem.org
· Feb 21
Migration does not have to be what it is now
Innovation can change what migration *is*—more orderly, skilled, integrated, & tangibly beneficial to everyone affected
In 2012 I proposed one way: Global Skill Partnerships
The World Bank just released a major GSP roadmap—> hdl.handle.net/10986/42780
Innovation can change what migration *is*—more orderly, skilled, integrated, & tangibly beneficial to everyone affected
In 2012 I proposed one way: Global Skill Partnerships
The World Bank just released a major GSP roadmap—> hdl.handle.net/10986/42780
Reposted by Michael Clemens
This agency is out of control if leadership is no longer checking violations of constitutional rights. Congress absolutely must step in before more people are kidnapped/killed.
A woman recording an ICE agent tells him "Shame on you."
The agent responds, "Have you all not learned from the past couple of days?"
"Learned what?" she asks
Then he knocks her phone out of her hand
The agent responds, "Have you all not learned from the past couple of days?"
"Learned what?" she asks
Then he knocks her phone out of her hand
January 10, 2026 at 6:57 PM
This agency is out of control if leadership is no longer checking violations of constitutional rights. Congress absolutely must step in before more people are kidnapped/killed.
Killing, lying, dishonor, and extremism are the opposite of Christian and the opposite of Conservative.
Op-Ed in the National Catholic Reporter is not pulling any punches.
“The vice president's comments justifying the death of Renee Good are a moral stain on the collective witness of our Catholic faith”
“The vice president's comments justifying the death of Renee Good are a moral stain on the collective witness of our Catholic faith”
January 10, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Killing, lying, dishonor, and extremism are the opposite of Christian and the opposite of Conservative.
I’ll go with “nauseating” and “incriminating”.
January 10, 2026 at 4:08 PM
I’ll go with “nauseating” and “incriminating”.
Please ask any company or institution you are affiliated with to stop supporting this depraved person with their continued reliance on his child exploitation network.
There is no excuse. Several excellent alternative networks exist.
There is no excuse. Several excellent alternative networks exist.
Preventing the sharing of sexualised images of children is “censorship” according to Elon Musk.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Musk says X outcry is 'excuse for censorship'
The government is urging Ofcom to use all its powers – up to and including an effective ban – against X.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 10, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Please ask any company or institution you are affiliated with to stop supporting this depraved person with their continued reliance on his child exploitation network.
There is no excuse. Several excellent alternative networks exist.
There is no excuse. Several excellent alternative networks exist.
No Democrat and No Republican has the right to pervert our troops for this sickening, illegal purpose.
Several hundred people in Washington DC have the Constitutional power and duty end this immediately—today—and choose instead to reward it, poisoning our future.
Several hundred people in Washington DC have the Constitutional power and duty end this immediately—today—and choose instead to reward it, poisoning our future.
whats missing from all the coverage is that the president is using the military to harass, brutalize and punish areas of the country that didnt vote for him
January 10, 2026 at 4:02 PM
No Democrat and No Republican has the right to pervert our troops for this sickening, illegal purpose.
Several hundred people in Washington DC have the Constitutional power and duty end this immediately—today—and choose instead to reward it, poisoning our future.
Several hundred people in Washington DC have the Constitutional power and duty end this immediately—today—and choose instead to reward it, poisoning our future.
An officer of the federal government reminds a US citizen in Minneapolis, who is doing nothing but observe him, that if she does not obey him she can expect to be executed.
A woman recording an ICE agent tells him "Shame on you."
The agent responds, "Have you all not learned from the past couple of days?"
"Learned what?" she asks
Then he knocks her phone out of her hand
The agent responds, "Have you all not learned from the past couple of days?"
"Learned what?" she asks
Then he knocks her phone out of her hand
January 10, 2026 at 3:59 PM
An officer of the federal government reminds a US citizen in Minneapolis, who is doing nothing but observe him, that if she does not obey him she can expect to be executed.
Speak out, stand up, take action while there is still time.
Let your representatives—in government and univ. administration and professional societies—know that Americans Right & Left reject the shattering of our research system.
Sometimes, it works.
Let your representatives—in government and univ. administration and professional societies—know that Americans Right & Left reject the shattering of our research system.
Sometimes, it works.
This is a HUGE win…and one that happened because we ~collectively~ said “NO!”
But AAAS coming in and saying on record to the NYT “Science is doing ok. Things are not bad at all…” is baffling.
If things are hard for you as a scientist, please share in the comments.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
But AAAS coming in and saying on record to the NYT “Science is doing ok. Things are not bad at all…” is baffling.
If things are hard for you as a scientist, please share in the comments.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
Congress Is Reversing Trump’s Steep Budget Cuts to Science
www.nytimes.com
January 10, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Speak out, stand up, take action while there is still time.
Let your representatives—in government and univ. administration and professional societies—know that Americans Right & Left reject the shattering of our research system.
Sometimes, it works.
Let your representatives—in government and univ. administration and professional societies—know that Americans Right & Left reject the shattering of our research system.
Sometimes, it works.
Reposted by Michael Clemens
What is an economics PhD? Should I do an economics PhD? And how should I prepare and apply to a PhD programme?
Assistant Professor of Economics Abdoulaye Ndiaye outlines everything you need to know about a PhD in economics. https://voxdev.org/topic/everything-you-need-know-about-phd-economics
Assistant Professor of Economics Abdoulaye Ndiaye outlines everything you need to know about a PhD in economics. https://voxdev.org/topic/everything-you-need-know-about-phd-economics
Everything you need to know about a PhD in economics
A set of answers to many of the most common questions about economics PhDs, including: What is an economics PhD? Should I do an economics PhD? And how should I prepare and apply to a PhD programme?
voxdev.org
January 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM
What is an economics PhD? Should I do an economics PhD? And how should I prepare and apply to a PhD programme?
Assistant Professor of Economics Abdoulaye Ndiaye outlines everything you need to know about a PhD in economics. https://voxdev.org/topic/everything-you-need-know-about-phd-economics
Assistant Professor of Economics Abdoulaye Ndiaye outlines everything you need to know about a PhD in economics. https://voxdev.org/topic/everything-you-need-know-about-phd-economics
No attempt to unify us.
No ability, whatsoever, to unify us.
No capacity to build—coalitions, institutions, a future shared by Conservatives and Liberals.
Just contempt, erasing budgets, blackmail. The only tools in the Playskool tool chest.
No ability, whatsoever, to unify us.
No capacity to build—coalitions, institutions, a future shared by Conservatives and Liberals.
Just contempt, erasing budgets, blackmail. The only tools in the Playskool tool chest.
The US Department of Agriculture suspends all federal funding to Minnesota, effective immediately.
January 10, 2026 at 1:20 AM
No attempt to unify us.
No ability, whatsoever, to unify us.
No capacity to build—coalitions, institutions, a future shared by Conservatives and Liberals.
Just contempt, erasing budgets, blackmail. The only tools in the Playskool tool chest.
No ability, whatsoever, to unify us.
No capacity to build—coalitions, institutions, a future shared by Conservatives and Liberals.
Just contempt, erasing budgets, blackmail. The only tools in the Playskool tool chest.
“It was as though I pointed to a black wall and asked Milošević what color it was. White, he says. No, I reply, look at it, that wall there, it is black…. He says, The wall is white, my friend, maybe you should have your eyes checked.”
theintercept.com/2017/02/07/w... by @maassp.bsky.social
theintercept.com/2017/02/07/w... by @maassp.bsky.social
What Slobodan Milosevic Taught Me About Donald Trump
I have never interviewed Donald Trump but I have an unforgettable memory of what it’s like to sit in a room with a demagogue and try to pin him down.
theintercept.com
January 10, 2026 at 1:15 AM
This is the person that the US Administration has described as a TERRORIST.
Becca Good, the wife of Renee Good, has released her first public statement since the shooting
“We were raising our son to believe that no matter where you come from or what you look like, all of us deserve compassion and kindness. Renee lived this belief every day.”
“We were raising our son to believe that no matter where you come from or what you look like, all of us deserve compassion and kindness. Renee lived this belief every day.”
Renee Macklin Good’s wife says she nurtured kindness
On Wednesday, Renee Macklin Good was fatally shot by a federal ICE agent. Becca Good, her wife, shared the following statement with MPR News.
www.mprnews.org
January 10, 2026 at 1:15 AM
This is the person that the US Administration has described as a TERRORIST.
The Kennedy Center doesn’t exist anymore.
January 9, 2026 at 11:35 PM
The Kennedy Center doesn’t exist anymore.
Your research is unique and remarkable. Thank you for doing it
January 9, 2026 at 6:59 PM
Your research is unique and remarkable. Thank you for doing it
Below are some Americans who were literally and indisputably attacking federal law enforcement.
Renee Good was doing nothing of the kind, but was executed by the US government.
Renee Good was doing nothing of the kind, but was executed by the US government.
I’ll never forget the blackshirts who attacked our Capitol and its honorable police officers, five years ago.
Their mass pardon, as friends and collaborators, is the opposite of Conservative and will endure as a historic atrocity against American ideals.
Their mass pardon, as friends and collaborators, is the opposite of Conservative and will endure as a historic atrocity against American ideals.
January 9, 2026 at 6:52 PM
Below are some Americans who were literally and indisputably attacking federal law enforcement.
Renee Good was doing nothing of the kind, but was executed by the US government.
Renee Good was doing nothing of the kind, but was executed by the US government.
Military rule, with impunity, will not help anyone's "side". It will poison the United States and the future of all Conservative Americans, all Liberal Americans.
January 9, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Military rule, with impunity, will not help anyone's "side". It will poison the United States and the future of all Conservative Americans, all Liberal Americans.
This is the US citizen and mother of a young child that the US Administration has called a "terrorist".
The person the US President falsely stated was threatening officers' lives.
Just before heavily armed troops executed her, shooting her three times in the head as she attempted to flee.
The person the US President falsely stated was threatening officers' lives.
Just before heavily armed troops executed her, shooting her three times in the head as she attempted to flee.
🚨 NEW VIDEO 👇🏽This puts an end to all the lies. Horrific.
They were having a calm exchange seconds before he murdered Renee Good, and she was barely moving and clearly avoiding him.
Stop the lies.
They were having a calm exchange seconds before he murdered Renee Good, and she was barely moving and clearly avoiding him.
Stop the lies.
January 9, 2026 at 6:49 PM
This is the US citizen and mother of a young child that the US Administration has called a "terrorist".
The person the US President falsely stated was threatening officers' lives.
Just before heavily armed troops executed her, shooting her three times in the head as she attempted to flee.
The person the US President falsely stated was threatening officers' lives.
Just before heavily armed troops executed her, shooting her three times in the head as she attempted to flee.
January 9, 2026 at 6:03 PM
The United States is ruled by laws, under our Constitution.
Under those laws, the penalty for disobeying the instructions of a federal officer is not summary execution.
So this Congressman must serve some ruler other than our laws and Constitution, and should depart public office immediately.
Under those laws, the penalty for disobeying the instructions of a federal officer is not summary execution.
So this Congressman must serve some ruler other than our laws and Constitution, and should depart public office immediately.
The most chilling thing to read.
“The bottom line is this: When a federal officer gives you instructions, you abide by them and then you get to keep your life,” Representative Wesley Hunt of Texas said on Newsmax."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/o...
“The bottom line is this: When a federal officer gives you instructions, you abide by them and then you get to keep your life,” Representative Wesley Hunt of Texas said on Newsmax."
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/08/o...
Opinion | By Killing Renee Good, ICE Sent a Message to Us All
www.nytimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 6:03 PM
The United States is ruled by laws, under our Constitution.
Under those laws, the penalty for disobeying the instructions of a federal officer is not summary execution.
So this Congressman must serve some ruler other than our laws and Constitution, and should depart public office immediately.
Under those laws, the penalty for disobeying the instructions of a federal officer is not summary execution.
So this Congressman must serve some ruler other than our laws and Constitution, and should depart public office immediately.
Reposted by Michael Clemens
Yesterday Elon Musk retweeted "white solidarity is the only way to survive". In our numb overwhelmed media environment it barely made headlines that the world's richest man endorsed blood-curdling white nationalism. My brief writeup for @religiondispatches.org
religiondispatches.org/elon-musk-ju...
religiondispatches.org/elon-musk-ju...
Elon Musk Just Endorsed Blatant White Nationalism And the Silence is Deafening
On Thursday morning Elon Musk retweeted (with a ‘100%’ endorsement) a post declaring that:
If white men become a minority, we will be slaughtered. Remember, if non-Whites openly hate White men while...
religiondispatches.org
January 9, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Yesterday Elon Musk retweeted "white solidarity is the only way to survive". In our numb overwhelmed media environment it barely made headlines that the world's richest man endorsed blood-curdling white nationalism. My brief writeup for @religiondispatches.org
religiondispatches.org/elon-musk-ju...
religiondispatches.org/elon-musk-ju...
Reposted by Michael Clemens
It follows that Trump leaked the most market-moving economic numbers that exist.
I have no idea how illegal this is, or if the law even matters any more.
But I do know this: It's unprecedented. No White House has ever before leaked such important market-moving numbers. No serious country does this
I have no idea how illegal this is, or if the law even matters any more.
But I do know this: It's unprecedented. No White House has ever before leaked such important market-moving numbers. No serious country does this
January 9, 2026 at 3:40 PM
It follows that Trump leaked the most market-moving economic numbers that exist.
I have no idea how illegal this is, or if the law even matters any more.
But I do know this: It's unprecedented. No White House has ever before leaked such important market-moving numbers. No serious country does this
I have no idea how illegal this is, or if the law even matters any more.
But I do know this: It's unprecedented. No White House has ever before leaked such important market-moving numbers. No serious country does this
Reposted by Michael Clemens
How does recent growth compare to recent years?
The U.S. economy added just 0.58 million jobs over 12 months to Dec 2025, the fewest jobs added outside of the recession in years.
The U.S. economy added just 0.58 million jobs over 12 months to Dec 2025, the fewest jobs added outside of the recession in years.
January 9, 2026 at 1:35 PM
How does recent growth compare to recent years?
The U.S. economy added just 0.58 million jobs over 12 months to Dec 2025, the fewest jobs added outside of the recession in years.
The U.S. economy added just 0.58 million jobs over 12 months to Dec 2025, the fewest jobs added outside of the recession in years.
I will remember that day as long as I live.
It was just one of so many days, one after the other, that showed us the arc of history bent toward something better.
I never understood, in the midst of it, that it was a brief window of time.
It was just one of so many days, one after the other, that showed us the arc of history bent toward something better.
I never understood, in the midst of it, that it was a brief window of time.
January 9, 2026 at 3:01 PM
I will remember that day as long as I live.
It was just one of so many days, one after the other, that showed us the arc of history bent toward something better.
I never understood, in the midst of it, that it was a brief window of time.
It was just one of so many days, one after the other, that showed us the arc of history bent toward something better.
I never understood, in the midst of it, that it was a brief window of time.
These are heavily armed, enraged officers of the federal government attempting to terrorize Americans—for doing nothing but stand on a public sidewalk, observing them.
Americans reject military rule. It will ultimately harm all Conservatives and all Liberals. It is illegal and we do not want it.
Americans reject military rule. It will ultimately harm all Conservatives and all Liberals. It is illegal and we do not want it.
I think it is probably a bad idea to put clearly unhinged, angry psychopaths in federal law enforcement positions.
January 9, 2026 at 2:58 PM
These are heavily armed, enraged officers of the federal government attempting to terrorize Americans—for doing nothing but stand on a public sidewalk, observing them.
Americans reject military rule. It will ultimately harm all Conservatives and all Liberals. It is illegal and we do not want it.
Americans reject military rule. It will ultimately harm all Conservatives and all Liberals. It is illegal and we do not want it.
"Le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés."
Chance favors the prepared mind.
Louis Pasteur in an 1854 speech—>
Chance favors the prepared mind.
Louis Pasteur in an 1854 speech—>
Discours prononcé à Douai le 7 décembre 1854 à l’occasion de l’installation solennelle de la faculté des lettres de Douai et de la faculté des sciences de Lille - Wikisource
fr.wikisource.org
January 9, 2026 at 2:40 PM
"Le hasard ne favorise que les esprits préparés."
Chance favors the prepared mind.
Louis Pasteur in an 1854 speech—>
Chance favors the prepared mind.
Louis Pasteur in an 1854 speech—>
He is right until he isn't, and we decide when—notes @timurkuran.bsky.social —>
Now out of Never: The Element of Surprise in the East European Revolution of 1989 | World Politics | Cambridge Core
Now out of Never: The Element of Surprise in the East European Revolution of 1989 - Volume 44 Issue 1
doi.org
January 9, 2026 at 2:36 PM
He is right until he isn't, and we decide when—notes @timurkuran.bsky.social —>