Travis Whitacre
@traviswhitacre.bsky.social
Yale Postdoc | SMU PhD | Fields: Health Economics, Labor Economics, Applied Microeconometrics | Studying child development, mortality, and health inequities | he/him | WT alum
Website: https://traviswhitacre.github.io/
Website: https://traviswhitacre.github.io/
Pinned
Hi all!
I am Travis Whitacre, an Applied Microeconomist and Postdoctoral Associate at Yale School of Public Health. I am on the Economic Job Market this year.
Learn more about me, as well as a link to my JMP: traviswhitacre.github.io
Some highlights of the paper:
#EconJMP #EconSky
I am Travis Whitacre, an Applied Microeconomist and Postdoctoral Associate at Yale School of Public Health. I am on the Economic Job Market this year.
Learn more about me, as well as a link to my JMP: traviswhitacre.github.io
Some highlights of the paper:
#EconJMP #EconSky
While about ADHD and not ASD:
“‘the rise of ADHD is a consequence of what might otherwisebe considered a good thing: that the world we live in increasingly values intellectual consideration and rationality ... Modernity didn’t create ADHD It revealed it.’” - Malcolm Gladwell, 1999
“‘the rise of ADHD is a consequence of what might otherwisebe considered a good thing: that the world we live in increasingly values intellectual consideration and rationality ... Modernity didn’t create ADHD It revealed it.’” - Malcolm Gladwell, 1999
There is a lot of focus on Tylenol and autism spectrum disorder today, but RFK Jr. is also suggesting that low folate levels contribute.
First, a reminder that genetics are the overwhelming contributor to ASD—up to 90%.
Anything else he pulls out is likely to have minimal impact on ASD rates.
First, a reminder that genetics are the overwhelming contributor to ASD—up to 90%.
Anything else he pulls out is likely to have minimal impact on ASD rates.
September 6, 2025 at 10:34 AM
While about ADHD and not ASD:
“‘the rise of ADHD is a consequence of what might otherwisebe considered a good thing: that the world we live in increasingly values intellectual consideration and rationality ... Modernity didn’t create ADHD It revealed it.’” - Malcolm Gladwell, 1999
“‘the rise of ADHD is a consequence of what might otherwisebe considered a good thing: that the world we live in increasingly values intellectual consideration and rationality ... Modernity didn’t create ADHD It revealed it.’” - Malcolm Gladwell, 1999
Hi #EconSky! I was on the market this past cycle, specifically focused on the DC-Maryland-Virginia area because my fiancé is at the Fed Board (we get married this May).
I had a few government offers, all of which ended up being affected by the current civil service cuts.
I had a few government offers, all of which ended up being affected by the current civil service cuts.
May 15, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Hi #EconSky! I was on the market this past cycle, specifically focused on the DC-Maryland-Virginia area because my fiancé is at the Fed Board (we get married this May).
I had a few government offers, all of which ended up being affected by the current civil service cuts.
I had a few government offers, all of which ended up being affected by the current civil service cuts.
Reposted by Travis Whitacre
Herbert P. Kitschelt is the winner of the 2025 Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science. 🏆
He is awarded the prize for " having increased knowledge of the functioning of democratic party systems with exquisite theoretical acuity and impressive empirical breadth and depth."
He is awarded the prize for " having increased knowledge of the functioning of democratic party systems with exquisite theoretical acuity and impressive empirical breadth and depth."
April 23, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Herbert P. Kitschelt is the winner of the 2025 Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science. 🏆
He is awarded the prize for " having increased knowledge of the functioning of democratic party systems with exquisite theoretical acuity and impressive empirical breadth and depth."
He is awarded the prize for " having increased knowledge of the functioning of democratic party systems with exquisite theoretical acuity and impressive empirical breadth and depth."
Congratulations to my soon to be father in law for winning the “Nobel” prize in Political Science!
👏 👏 👏
👏 👏 👏
Herbert P. Kitschelt is the winner of the 2025 Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science. 🏆
He is awarded the prize for " having increased knowledge of the functioning of democratic party systems with exquisite theoretical acuity and impressive empirical breadth and depth."
He is awarded the prize for " having increased knowledge of the functioning of democratic party systems with exquisite theoretical acuity and impressive empirical breadth and depth."
April 23, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Congratulations to my soon to be father in law for winning the “Nobel” prize in Political Science!
👏 👏 👏
👏 👏 👏
Reposted by Travis Whitacre
Senator Chris Van Hollen is on his way to El Salvador to discuss bringing Kilmar Abrgeo Garcia back home.
April 16, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Senator Chris Van Hollen is on his way to El Salvador to discuss bringing Kilmar Abrgeo Garcia back home.
Also important in response to these takes: slower growth from a recession does not necessarily mean lower prices if the economy is stagflationary. (Ahem, tariffs)
1/ I'm seeing a bad take floating around: "even a bad recession boosts the unemployment rate only to 10%; for the other 90% the recession is an opportunity to buy cheap houses."
But recessions and their aftermath are bad for more than 50% of households.
But recessions and their aftermath are bad for more than 50% of households.
April 8, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Also important in response to these takes: slower growth from a recession does not necessarily mean lower prices if the economy is stagflationary. (Ahem, tariffs)
The actions of our country’s leaders makes a lot more sense when you accept that they are not rational actors.
April 7, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The actions of our country’s leaders makes a lot more sense when you accept that they are not rational actors.
First time I’ve watched an international sports game the US was playing in and rooted against the US.
Go Canada, they deserved this win! 🇨🇦
Go Canada, they deserved this win! 🇨🇦
February 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM
First time I’ve watched an international sports game the US was playing in and rooted against the US.
Go Canada, they deserved this win! 🇨🇦
Go Canada, they deserved this win! 🇨🇦
Reposted by Travis Whitacre
EXCLUSIVE: The Bureau of the Fiscal Service is a sleepy part of the Treasury Department. It’s also where, sources say, a 25-year-old engineer tied to Elon Musk has admin privileges over the code that controls Social Security payments, tax returns, and more.
A 25-Year-Old With Elon Musk Ties Has Direct Access to the Federal Payment System
The Bureau of the Fiscal Service is a sleepy part of the Treasury Department. It’s also where, sources say, a 25-year-old engineer tied to Elon Musk has admin privileges over the code that controls So...
www.wired.com
February 4, 2025 at 6:02 AM
EXCLUSIVE: The Bureau of the Fiscal Service is a sleepy part of the Treasury Department. It’s also where, sources say, a 25-year-old engineer tied to Elon Musk has admin privileges over the code that controls Social Security payments, tax returns, and more.
Reposted by Travis Whitacre
New and important: we built a federal expenditure tracker. All expenditure line items that are available on the Daily Treasury Statement.
USAID was zeroed out on 1/28 and has been at zero ever since.
www.hamiltonproject.org/data/trackin...
#EconSky
USAID was zeroed out on 1/28 and has been at zero ever since.
www.hamiltonproject.org/data/trackin...
#EconSky
February 3, 2025 at 9:41 PM
New and important: we built a federal expenditure tracker. All expenditure line items that are available on the Daily Treasury Statement.
USAID was zeroed out on 1/28 and has been at zero ever since.
www.hamiltonproject.org/data/trackin...
#EconSky
USAID was zeroed out on 1/28 and has been at zero ever since.
www.hamiltonproject.org/data/trackin...
#EconSky
RIP all of us applied economists, econometricians, and IO folks working on anything to do with barriers to entry
🚨BREAKING. From a program officer at the National Science Foundation, a list of keywords that can cause a grant to be pulled. I will be sharing screenshots of these keywords along with a decision tree. Please share widely. This is a crisis for academic freedom & science.
February 4, 2025 at 2:56 AM
RIP all of us applied economists, econometricians, and IO folks working on anything to do with barriers to entry
Reposted by Travis Whitacre
(NYT) - More than 8,000 web pages across more than a dozen U.S. government websites have been taken down since Friday afternoon, a New York Times analysis has found ..
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/u...
Thousands of U.S. Government Web Pages Have Been Taken Down Since Friday
Federal agencies moved to satisfy Trump’s orders to remove topics like diversity initiatives and “gender ideology.”
www.nytimes.com
February 2, 2025 at 8:00 PM
(NYT) - More than 8,000 web pages across more than a dozen U.S. government websites have been taken down since Friday afternoon, a New York Times analysis has found ..
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/u...
If you see this, quote with flowers from your gallery
January 26, 2025 at 2:57 PM
If you see this, quote with flowers from your gallery
Reposted by Travis Whitacre
Pics I just took from the garage of our local Target. The evac warnings haven’t reached us yet but they’re getting closer than I’d like.
January 11, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Pics I just took from the garage of our local Target. The evac warnings haven’t reached us yet but they’re getting closer than I’d like.
Reposted by Travis Whitacre
Starting off the new year proudly! My former student, @traviswhitacre.bsky.social ‘s first publication!
Congrats!
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Congrats!
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Flavored E-Cigarette Sales Restrictions and Young Adult Tobacco Use
This quasi-experimental survey study evaluates the association of restrictions on flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems with vaping and cigarette smoking among 18- to 29-year-old individuals i...
jamanetwork.com
January 1, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Starting off the new year proudly! My former student, @traviswhitacre.bsky.social ‘s first publication!
Congrats!
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Congrats!
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Our new article in JAMA Health Forum “Flavored E-Cigarette Sales Restrictions and Young Adult Tobacco Use” is now live on JAMA!
Give it a look! #EconSky
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Give it a look! #EconSky
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Flavored E-Cigarette Sales Restrictions and Young Adult Tobacco Use
This quasi-experimental survey study evaluates the association of restrictions on flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems with vaping and cigarette smoking among 18- to 29-year-old individuals i...
jamanetwork.com
January 1, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Our new article in JAMA Health Forum “Flavored E-Cigarette Sales Restrictions and Young Adult Tobacco Use” is now live on JAMA!
Give it a look! #EconSky
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Give it a look! #EconSky
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Travis Whitacre
Microeconomics is the study of two agents interacting, while macroeconomics is the study of one agent interacting.
What is the difference between microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory?
December 19, 2024 at 5:54 AM
Microeconomics is the study of two agents interacting, while macroeconomics is the study of one agent interacting.
Reposted by Travis Whitacre
Since media continues obsession with CEO killer, I'll renew suggestion..focus instead on
HEALTH POLICY
Some additional suggested topics (others below):
-potential cuts to Medicaid in next Congress
-science on vaccines
-health costs
-consolidation,effects on prices
-declining life expectancy
HEALTH POLICY
Some additional suggested topics (others below):
-potential cuts to Medicaid in next Congress
-science on vaccines
-health costs
-consolidation,effects on prices
-declining life expectancy
December 13, 2024 at 7:00 PM
Since media continues obsession with CEO killer, I'll renew suggestion..focus instead on
HEALTH POLICY
Some additional suggested topics (others below):
-potential cuts to Medicaid in next Congress
-science on vaccines
-health costs
-consolidation,effects on prices
-declining life expectancy
HEALTH POLICY
Some additional suggested topics (others below):
-potential cuts to Medicaid in next Congress
-science on vaccines
-health costs
-consolidation,effects on prices
-declining life expectancy
Engagement photos preceding our wedding in May! @isabelkitschelt.bsky.social
December 13, 2024 at 3:49 PM
Engagement photos preceding our wedding in May! @isabelkitschelt.bsky.social
I’ll take “things that didn’t happen for $500 please”
December 12, 2024 at 10:16 PM
I’ll take “things that didn’t happen for $500 please”
Where else but Bluesky would the top two trends I see on my feed be:
1. Overleaf is down!
2. There’s a coup attempt in South Korea!
1. Overleaf is down!
2. There’s a coup attempt in South Korea!
December 3, 2024 at 5:51 PM
Where else but Bluesky would the top two trends I see on my feed be:
1. Overleaf is down!
2. There’s a coup attempt in South Korea!
1. Overleaf is down!
2. There’s a coup attempt in South Korea!
Our contributions to the thanksgiving table this year
November 29, 2024 at 7:06 AM
Our contributions to the thanksgiving table this year
Will be exciting to root for SMU in the ACC Championship Game!
November 23, 2024 at 9:21 PM
Will be exciting to root for SMU in the ACC Championship Game!
Really interesting paper.
A thought on a potential factor (beyond the obvious less resources + connections).
A perception gap: Lower income groups may perceive the benefit as less, or the costs + barrier of entry as higher, to even try applying.
From my experience: (1/5)
A thought on a potential factor (beyond the obvious less resources + connections).
A perception gap: Lower income groups may perceive the benefit as less, or the costs + barrier of entry as higher, to even try applying.
From my experience: (1/5)
Holy crap this is an astounding piece of historical research
Will post ungated link later today unless someone beats me to it
www.nber.org/system/files...
Will post ungated link later today unless someone beats me to it
www.nber.org/system/files...
November 18, 2024 at 4:47 PM
Really interesting paper.
A thought on a potential factor (beyond the obvious less resources + connections).
A perception gap: Lower income groups may perceive the benefit as less, or the costs + barrier of entry as higher, to even try applying.
From my experience: (1/5)
A thought on a potential factor (beyond the obvious less resources + connections).
A perception gap: Lower income groups may perceive the benefit as less, or the costs + barrier of entry as higher, to even try applying.
From my experience: (1/5)
Reposted by Travis Whitacre
November 17, 2024 at 7:10 PM