Toman Barsbai
@tomanbarsbai.com
Professor of Economics at the University of Bristol. Development, migration, culture, and behavior. tomanbarsbai.com
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
This is a hard year for the job market.
Dev economists: check out this available funding *if you’re open to be based in an LMIC*
It could supplement your salary + provide research funds.
Lots of research active hubs in Asia, Africa, LAC that would love to affiliate excellent global talent!
Dev economists: check out this available funding *if you’re open to be based in an LMIC*
It could supplement your salary + provide research funds.
Lots of research active hubs in Asia, Africa, LAC that would love to affiliate excellent global talent!
📢 Weiss Fellowship for Junior Researchers: Job market PhD candidates planning to work in low- and middle-income countries can apply for up to 3 years of supplemental funding.
🗓️ Applications review starting Jan 15, 2026 — early applications prioritized. Apply here: https://ow.ly/6yHi50XTbEF
🗓️ Applications review starting Jan 15, 2026 — early applications prioritized. Apply here: https://ow.ly/6yHi50XTbEF
January 14, 2026 at 3:08 AM
This is a hard year for the job market.
Dev economists: check out this available funding *if you’re open to be based in an LMIC*
It could supplement your salary + provide research funds.
Lots of research active hubs in Asia, Africa, LAC that would love to affiliate excellent global talent!
Dev economists: check out this available funding *if you’re open to be based in an LMIC*
It could supplement your salary + provide research funds.
Lots of research active hubs in Asia, Africa, LAC that would love to affiliate excellent global talent!
📢 Less than 3 weeks left to submit to the Bristol Applied Economics Meetings (BÆM). Come join us!
🌍Development (5-6 May) w/ Mobarak, Orkin, Rasul, Rossi
👥Migration (6-7 May) w/ Abramitzky, Monras, Theoharides
⚖️Fairness (8 May) w/ Fehr, Bénabou, Almås
👉 baem.info
🌍Development (5-6 May) w/ Mobarak, Orkin, Rasul, Rossi
👥Migration (6-7 May) w/ Abramitzky, Monras, Theoharides
⚖️Fairness (8 May) w/ Fehr, Bénabou, Almås
👉 baem.info
January 13, 2026 at 10:59 AM
📢 Less than 3 weeks left to submit to the Bristol Applied Economics Meetings (BÆM). Come join us!
🌍Development (5-6 May) w/ Mobarak, Orkin, Rasul, Rossi
👥Migration (6-7 May) w/ Abramitzky, Monras, Theoharides
⚖️Fairness (8 May) w/ Fehr, Bénabou, Almås
👉 baem.info
🌍Development (5-6 May) w/ Mobarak, Orkin, Rasul, Rossi
👥Migration (6-7 May) w/ Abramitzky, Monras, Theoharides
⚖️Fairness (8 May) w/ Fehr, Bénabou, Almås
👉 baem.info
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
Inaugural Workshop of the Standing Committee for Political Economy of the German Economic Association (Verein für Socialpolitik e.V.), @vfsecon.bsky.social
Call for Papers below! Maik T. Schneider, @steinhardt.bsky.social @theocharisgr.bsky.social
and I hope to see you in Berlin, March 26-27!
Call for Papers below! Maik T. Schneider, @steinhardt.bsky.social @theocharisgr.bsky.social
and I hope to see you in Berlin, March 26-27!
January 8, 2026 at 7:22 PM
Inaugural Workshop of the Standing Committee for Political Economy of the German Economic Association (Verein für Socialpolitik e.V.), @vfsecon.bsky.social
Call for Papers below! Maik T. Schneider, @steinhardt.bsky.social @theocharisgr.bsky.social
and I hope to see you in Berlin, March 26-27!
Call for Papers below! Maik T. Schneider, @steinhardt.bsky.social @theocharisgr.bsky.social
and I hope to see you in Berlin, March 26-27!
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
📢 International migration is one of the most powerful tools available for poverty reduction and economic development.
At our VoxDevLit launch event on January 14, Dean Yang will summarise evidence on international migration.
Register➡️ https://ow.ly/y5n150XRWT9
At our VoxDevLit launch event on January 14, Dean Yang will summarise evidence on international migration.
Register➡️ https://ow.ly/y5n150XRWT9
January 5, 2026 at 2:57 PM
📢 International migration is one of the most powerful tools available for poverty reduction and economic development.
At our VoxDevLit launch event on January 14, Dean Yang will summarise evidence on international migration.
Register➡️ https://ow.ly/y5n150XRWT9
At our VoxDevLit launch event on January 14, Dean Yang will summarise evidence on international migration.
Register➡️ https://ow.ly/y5n150XRWT9
Great new evidence from the Philippines on the long-run multiplier of labor migration in countries of origin.
"Initial migrant income shocks are magnified six-fold over time, increasing domestic income, education levels, migrant skills, and high-skilled migration."
"Initial migrant income shocks are magnified six-fold over time, increasing domestic income, education levels, migrant skills, and high-skilled migration."
December 20, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Great new evidence from the Philippines on the long-run multiplier of labor migration in countries of origin.
"Initial migrant income shocks are magnified six-fold over time, increasing domestic income, education levels, migrant skills, and high-skilled migration."
"Initial migrant income shocks are magnified six-fold over time, increasing domestic income, education levels, migrant skills, and high-skilled migration."
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
We got a new paper out on Ukrainian #refugee entrepreneurs in Poland, with Cevat Giray Aksoy and Piotr Lewandowski. Check it out here: cevatgirayaksoy.com/wp-content/u... and see below for a THREAD!!! 👇 #EconTwitter
cevatgirayaksoy.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:05 PM
We got a new paper out on Ukrainian #refugee entrepreneurs in Poland, with Cevat Giray Aksoy and Piotr Lewandowski. Check it out here: cevatgirayaksoy.com/wp-content/u... and see below for a THREAD!!! 👇 #EconTwitter
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
The International Monetary Fund asked me to review the literature on migration economics to draw lessons for low-income countries.
In a new @iza.org paper, I argue that policy for the 21st century must discard four outdated ideas.
www.iza.org/publications...
🧵 thread—>
In a new @iza.org paper, I argue that policy for the 21st century must discard four outdated ideas.
www.iza.org/publications...
🧵 thread—>
December 18, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The International Monetary Fund asked me to review the literature on migration economics to draw lessons for low-income countries.
In a new @iza.org paper, I argue that policy for the 21st century must discard four outdated ideas.
www.iza.org/publications...
🧵 thread—>
In a new @iza.org paper, I argue that policy for the 21st century must discard four outdated ideas.
www.iza.org/publications...
🧵 thread—>
📢 Call for papers 📢
Join us for the Bristol Applied Economics Meeting (BÆM) on the Economics of Migration, May 6-7!
Invited talks by Ran Abramitzky, Joan Monras, and Caroline Theoharides.
Submit your paper by Jan 31. Some travel funding is available. baem.info/CfP_MIG_26.pdf
Join us for the Bristol Applied Economics Meeting (BÆM) on the Economics of Migration, May 6-7!
Invited talks by Ran Abramitzky, Joan Monras, and Caroline Theoharides.
Submit your paper by Jan 31. Some travel funding is available. baem.info/CfP_MIG_26.pdf
December 18, 2025 at 12:58 PM
📢 Call for papers 📢
Join us for the Bristol Applied Economics Meeting (BÆM) on the Economics of Migration, May 6-7!
Invited talks by Ran Abramitzky, Joan Monras, and Caroline Theoharides.
Submit your paper by Jan 31. Some travel funding is available. baem.info/CfP_MIG_26.pdf
Join us for the Bristol Applied Economics Meeting (BÆM) on the Economics of Migration, May 6-7!
Invited talks by Ran Abramitzky, Joan Monras, and Caroline Theoharides.
Submit your paper by Jan 31. Some travel funding is available. baem.info/CfP_MIG_26.pdf
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
Exciting news on @malengo.org, the NGO that helps East African students move to Europe for education: Our research team has given us a glimpse of their early findings!
Here is the full writeup, joint with @richardnerland.bsky.social:
forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/CpZYHk...
Thread follows!
Here is the full writeup, joint with @richardnerland.bsky.social:
forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/CpZYHk...
Thread follows!
November 27, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Exciting news on @malengo.org, the NGO that helps East African students move to Europe for education: Our research team has given us a glimpse of their early findings!
Here is the full writeup, joint with @richardnerland.bsky.social:
forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/CpZYHk...
Thread follows!
Here is the full writeup, joint with @richardnerland.bsky.social:
forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/CpZYHk...
Thread follows!
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
📢 #CallForPapers 7th Workshop on the Economics and Politics of Migration
CEPR @ebrd.bsky.social King's College London & Sapienza University are co-organising a workshop on 28-29 May 2026 in Rome
Submit by 23 January
cepr.org/events/7th-w...
@micheledimaio.bsky.social @plvezina.bsky.social #EconSky
CEPR @ebrd.bsky.social King's College London & Sapienza University are co-organising a workshop on 28-29 May 2026 in Rome
Submit by 23 January
cepr.org/events/7th-w...
@micheledimaio.bsky.social @plvezina.bsky.social #EconSky
November 20, 2025 at 3:17 PM
📢 #CallForPapers 7th Workshop on the Economics and Politics of Migration
CEPR @ebrd.bsky.social King's College London & Sapienza University are co-organising a workshop on 28-29 May 2026 in Rome
Submit by 23 January
cepr.org/events/7th-w...
@micheledimaio.bsky.social @plvezina.bsky.social #EconSky
CEPR @ebrd.bsky.social King's College London & Sapienza University are co-organising a workshop on 28-29 May 2026 in Rome
Submit by 23 January
cepr.org/events/7th-w...
@micheledimaio.bsky.social @plvezina.bsky.social #EconSky
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
Over the past 3 decades, high-skill migrants from Asia—especially India and China—have transformed the US economy, fueling innovation, tech, higher ed, and healthcare growth, from Gaurav Khanna www.nber.org/papers/w34449
November 12, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Over the past 3 decades, high-skill migrants from Asia—especially India and China—have transformed the US economy, fueling innovation, tech, higher ed, and healthcare growth, from Gaurav Khanna www.nber.org/papers/w34449
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
CfP🗣️: 7th edition of the Workshop on the Economics and Politics of Migration. 28-29 May 2026, in Rome!
Organised by CEPR/King's College/EBRD/Sapienza
Keynotes are Paolo Pinotti (Bocconi) and Vicky Fouka (Stanford).
Submit your papers: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Deadline 23 Jan.
🤓🔥🍕🍝🍷
Organised by CEPR/King's College/EBRD/Sapienza
Keynotes are Paolo Pinotti (Bocconi) and Vicky Fouka (Stanford).
Submit your papers: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Deadline 23 Jan.
🤓🔥🍕🍝🍷
November 12, 2025 at 9:20 AM
CfP🗣️: 7th edition of the Workshop on the Economics and Politics of Migration. 28-29 May 2026, in Rome!
Organised by CEPR/King's College/EBRD/Sapienza
Keynotes are Paolo Pinotti (Bocconi) and Vicky Fouka (Stanford).
Submit your papers: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Deadline 23 Jan.
🤓🔥🍕🍝🍷
Organised by CEPR/King's College/EBRD/Sapienza
Keynotes are Paolo Pinotti (Bocconi) and Vicky Fouka (Stanford).
Submit your papers: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Deadline 23 Jan.
🤓🔥🍕🍝🍷
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
New from me:
An interactive data visualization showing billionaire migration: paths from birthplace to most recent residence for > 3,100 of the world’s richest individuals.
Most importantly, fun to play around with; also, useful for thinking about q's re: elites and comparative wealth ineq. 1/5
An interactive data visualization showing billionaire migration: paths from birthplace to most recent residence for > 3,100 of the world’s richest individuals.
Most importantly, fun to play around with; also, useful for thinking about q's re: elites and comparative wealth ineq. 1/5
Billionaire Migration: An Interactive Map
An interactive map of city-level migration flows for 3,106 billionaires from birth to most recent residence.
wesleystubenbord.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:31 AM
New from me:
An interactive data visualization showing billionaire migration: paths from birthplace to most recent residence for > 3,100 of the world’s richest individuals.
Most importantly, fun to play around with; also, useful for thinking about q's re: elites and comparative wealth ineq. 1/5
An interactive data visualization showing billionaire migration: paths from birthplace to most recent residence for > 3,100 of the world’s richest individuals.
Most importantly, fun to play around with; also, useful for thinking about q's re: elites and comparative wealth ineq. 1/5
BÆM is back! Submit your paper and join us for the 3rd Bristol Applied Economics Meetings. Three workshops with a fantastic lineup of invited speakers:
Development Economics, 5-6 May
Economics of Migration, 6-7 May
Fairness in the Economy, 8 May
Calls for papers👇https://www.baem.info/
Development Economics, 5-6 May
Economics of Migration, 6-7 May
Fairness in the Economy, 8 May
Calls for papers👇https://www.baem.info/
November 5, 2025 at 1:48 PM
BÆM is back! Submit your paper and join us for the 3rd Bristol Applied Economics Meetings. Three workshops with a fantastic lineup of invited speakers:
Development Economics, 5-6 May
Economics of Migration, 6-7 May
Fairness in the Economy, 8 May
Calls for papers👇https://www.baem.info/
Development Economics, 5-6 May
Economics of Migration, 6-7 May
Fairness in the Economy, 8 May
Calls for papers👇https://www.baem.info/
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
The economic effects of international students go far beyond their tuition dollars.
Many stay, innovate, & shape the productivity of the entire economy.
My co-authors & I estimate the impact of US international student exclusion policy in this new paper commissioned by the @nationalacademies.org.
Many stay, innovate, & shape the productivity of the entire economy.
My co-authors & I estimate the impact of US international student exclusion policy in this new paper commissioned by the @nationalacademies.org.
October 24, 2025 at 11:26 AM
The economic effects of international students go far beyond their tuition dollars.
Many stay, innovate, & shape the productivity of the entire economy.
My co-authors & I estimate the impact of US international student exclusion policy in this new paper commissioned by the @nationalacademies.org.
Many stay, innovate, & shape the productivity of the entire economy.
My co-authors & I estimate the impact of US international student exclusion policy in this new paper commissioned by the @nationalacademies.org.
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
Great news on @malengo.org: With a new large investment from The Shapiro Foundation (theshapirofoundation.org), we'll be able to bring several hundred vocational training and university students from Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda to Europe over the coming years!
More here: malengo.org/malengo-secu...
More here: malengo.org/malengo-secu...
October 23, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Great news on @malengo.org: With a new large investment from The Shapiro Foundation (theshapirofoundation.org), we'll be able to bring several hundred vocational training and university students from Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda to Europe over the coming years!
More here: malengo.org/malengo-secu...
More here: malengo.org/malengo-secu...
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
In today's blog, I discuss 3 ways for international migration to be part of a structural transformation policy: 1) as an industry itself; 2) training people abroad in the skills to develop a new industry at home; and 3) through immigration (eg Start-up Chile) blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
International Migration as a Structural Transformation Policy
blogs.worldbank.org
September 29, 2025 at 12:45 PM
In today's blog, I discuss 3 ways for international migration to be part of a structural transformation policy: 1) as an industry itself; 2) training people abroad in the skills to develop a new industry at home; and 3) through immigration (eg Start-up Chile) blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
Very useful summary by @mclem.org of the evidence on skilled migration and the likely impact of Trump's H1B visa fee.
www.piie.com/blogs/realti...
www.piie.com/blogs/realti...
New US curb on high-skill immigrant workers ignores evidence of its likely harms
President Donald Trump on Friday ordered an unprecedented new restriction on lawful immigration to the US by high-skill workers. Starting Sunday, new applications for H-1B visas required payment of an...
www.piie.com
September 23, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Very useful summary by @mclem.org of the evidence on skilled migration and the likely impact of Trump's H1B visa fee.
www.piie.com/blogs/realti...
www.piie.com/blogs/realti...
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
Great new blog post by @lgilbert.co about @malengo.org's Uganda–Germany university program! www.laurenpolicy.com/p/what-happe...
What happens when you send Ugandan students to Germany?
Most of this blog is about international migration, and particularly, the economics of international migration.
www.laurenpolicy.com
September 5, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Great new blog post by @lgilbert.co about @malengo.org's Uganda–Germany university program! www.laurenpolicy.com/p/what-happe...
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
📢 New publication out!
We introduce the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey — a high-quality, longitudinal household panel on refugee integration in Germany. Combining rich survey data with administrative linkages.
📰 doi.org/10.1093/esr/...
@iabnews.bsky.social @bamf.de @diw.de
We introduce the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey — a high-quality, longitudinal household panel on refugee integration in Germany. Combining rich survey data with administrative linkages.
📰 doi.org/10.1093/esr/...
@iabnews.bsky.social @bamf.de @diw.de
July 20, 2025 at 10:58 AM
📢 New publication out!
We introduce the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey — a high-quality, longitudinal household panel on refugee integration in Germany. Combining rich survey data with administrative linkages.
📰 doi.org/10.1093/esr/...
@iabnews.bsky.social @bamf.de @diw.de
We introduce the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Survey — a high-quality, longitudinal household panel on refugee integration in Germany. Combining rich survey data with administrative linkages.
📰 doi.org/10.1093/esr/...
@iabnews.bsky.social @bamf.de @diw.de
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
Free Primary Education is widely seen as a tool to promote long-term growth, but in a new working paper (🚨),
@eleonoraguarnieri.bsky.social, Helmut Rainer and I show that the effects are more immediate and wide-reaching, with FPE leading to reduced fertility and greater female empowerment.
@eleonoraguarnieri.bsky.social, Helmut Rainer and I show that the effects are more immediate and wide-reaching, with FPE leading to reduced fertility and greater female empowerment.
July 16, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Free Primary Education is widely seen as a tool to promote long-term growth, but in a new working paper (🚨),
@eleonoraguarnieri.bsky.social, Helmut Rainer and I show that the effects are more immediate and wide-reaching, with FPE leading to reduced fertility and greater female empowerment.
@eleonoraguarnieri.bsky.social, Helmut Rainer and I show that the effects are more immediate and wide-reaching, with FPE leading to reduced fertility and greater female empowerment.
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
✨Did markets make Americans more cooperative❓🔍
✅YES‼️
Between 1850 and 1920, the US became the largest and most integrated economy in the world 📶🌎
We show that this shift didn’t just move goods and affect prices—it fundamentally changed culture and behavior
🧵 👇 1/17
✅YES‼️
Between 1850 and 1920, the US became the largest and most integrated economy in the world 📶🌎
We show that this shift didn’t just move goods and affect prices—it fundamentally changed culture and behavior
🧵 👇 1/17
July 17, 2025 at 7:22 AM
✨Did markets make Americans more cooperative❓🔍
✅YES‼️
Between 1850 and 1920, the US became the largest and most integrated economy in the world 📶🌎
We show that this shift didn’t just move goods and affect prices—it fundamentally changed culture and behavior
🧵 👇 1/17
✅YES‼️
Between 1850 and 1920, the US became the largest and most integrated economy in the world 📶🌎
We show that this shift didn’t just move goods and affect prices—it fundamentally changed culture and behavior
🧵 👇 1/17
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
🆕 Why ‘Brain Drain’ is an incomplete story of migration 📢
Today on VoxDevTalks, @catiabatista.bsky.social (@novafrica.bsky.social) & Caroline Theoharides (Amherst College) discuss the channels through which emigration can benefit origin countries: voxdev.org/topic/migrat...
Today on VoxDevTalks, @catiabatista.bsky.social (@novafrica.bsky.social) & Caroline Theoharides (Amherst College) discuss the channels through which emigration can benefit origin countries: voxdev.org/topic/migrat...
July 9, 2025 at 8:37 AM
🆕 Why ‘Brain Drain’ is an incomplete story of migration 📢
Today on VoxDevTalks, @catiabatista.bsky.social (@novafrica.bsky.social) & Caroline Theoharides (Amherst College) discuss the channels through which emigration can benefit origin countries: voxdev.org/topic/migrat...
Today on VoxDevTalks, @catiabatista.bsky.social (@novafrica.bsky.social) & Caroline Theoharides (Amherst College) discuss the channels through which emigration can benefit origin countries: voxdev.org/topic/migrat...
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
"The human niche began to expand substantially ~70ka, driven by increased use of diverse habitats, from forests to deserts. Humans dispersing out of Africa after 50ka had distinct ecological flexibility as they encountered climatically challenging habitats." New from @elliescerri.bsky.social & co.👇🧪
Major expansion in the human niche preceded out of Africa dispersal - Nature
Analysis of species distribution models in a pan-African database comprising chronometrically dated archaeological sites over the past 120,000 years shows major expansion in the human niche from 70 ka...
www.nature.com
June 18, 2025 at 4:09 PM
"The human niche began to expand substantially ~70ka, driven by increased use of diverse habitats, from forests to deserts. Humans dispersing out of Africa after 50ka had distinct ecological flexibility as they encountered climatically challenging habitats." New from @elliescerri.bsky.social & co.👇🧪
Reposted by Toman Barsbai
How does high-skilled emigration affect countries of origin? I summarize our recent Science paper, &draw out lessons from where we need nuance (not all high-skilled is the same, & most studies lump together), what we don't know (especially how to do better policy) blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
How does high-skilled emigration affect countries of origin? A new review highlights what we’ve learned and what we still don’t know
blogs.worldbank.org
May 27, 2025 at 5:20 PM
How does high-skilled emigration affect countries of origin? I summarize our recent Science paper, &draw out lessons from where we need nuance (not all high-skilled is the same, & most studies lump together), what we don't know (especially how to do better policy) blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...