Will Thorne
@wbthorne.bsky.social
Nearly an economist. Boardgame sommelier. PhD candidate in economics, interested in cities & housing, politics.
I do not believe rationing healthcare with prices is all that great, but this is probably the worst rationing mechanism available:
November 4, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I do not believe rationing healthcare with prices is all that great, but this is probably the worst rationing mechanism available:
I suspect we will see lots of GOP seeking to create a "brand" for themselves, as they prepare for a post-Trump political scramble for power.
Hawley and MTG are already starting, and I think those are the first dominoes to fall.
Hawley and MTG are already starting, and I think those are the first dominoes to fall.
grimly fucking funny that Marjorie Taylor Greene is turning out to be one of the most reality-based Republicans. getting a little chuckle out of that www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
Marjorie Taylor Greene doubles down on her unexpected break with Republicans over health care in shutdown fight
The MAGA firebrand sparked criticism from GOP leadership after giving voice to a key Democratic demand — extending expiring Obamacare funding to avoid premium hikes.
www.nbcnews.com
October 8, 2025 at 6:55 PM
I suspect we will see lots of GOP seeking to create a "brand" for themselves, as they prepare for a post-Trump political scramble for power.
Hawley and MTG are already starting, and I think those are the first dominoes to fall.
Hawley and MTG are already starting, and I think those are the first dominoes to fall.
Reposted by Will Thorne
Sometimes you think 'oh it can't really be that bad can it' and then you click on the link and it turns out it is exactly that bad www.bbc.com/news/article...
Council demolishes play area after noise complaints
Parents in a Derbyshire town say their children are 'devastated' they have lost the facility.
www.bbc.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Sometimes you think 'oh it can't really be that bad can it' and then you click on the link and it turns out it is exactly that bad www.bbc.com/news/article...
If they actually wanted me to peel fresh ginger, they should have designed it better.
October 3, 2025 at 6:52 PM
If they actually wanted me to peel fresh ginger, they should have designed it better.
Reposted by Will Thorne
"You can be angry about the assault on our democracy and our freedoms and still be a happy warrior in how you confront that. Roosevelt, when he was going after big-money special interests, said, 'I welcome their hatred," says @vanhollen.senate.gov. newrepublic.com/article/2013...
Chris Van Hollen Is Angry—at Trump, and at His Party’s Lame Pollsters
The Maryland senator explains why he went to El Salvador earlier this year while the rest of the party tried to downplay immigration issues, and his decision to go to Iowa and flirt with a 2028 presid...
newrepublic.com
October 3, 2025 at 2:45 PM
"You can be angry about the assault on our democracy and our freedoms and still be a happy warrior in how you confront that. Roosevelt, when he was going after big-money special interests, said, 'I welcome their hatred," says @vanhollen.senate.gov. newrepublic.com/article/2013...
Reposted by Will Thorne
bought wifi on my last flight and spent the whole time reading about civil war Massachusetts infantry regiments
October 2, 2025 at 7:53 PM
bought wifi on my last flight and spent the whole time reading about civil war Massachusetts infantry regiments
Reposted by Will Thorne
"I would prefer not to"
The Bartleby the Scrivener economy
The Bartleby the Scrivener economy
I do not want to enable location services. I do not want to create an account. I do not want to sign up for special offers and news about your product. I would like to engage in a simple transaction where I give you money in exchange for a good.
September 30, 2025 at 7:20 PM
"I would prefer not to"
The Bartleby the Scrivener economy
The Bartleby the Scrivener economy
Reposted by Will Thorne
At some point people need to learn that the poverty rate is mostly about the safety net or lack thereof and not the economy. The economy was doing historically well, real wages rising for the first time in decades, etc. And poverty rose because pandemic safety policies expired.
A new Census Bureau report establishes that poverty increased over the course of the Biden administration.
The data is yet another rebuke to the politicians and commentators who insisted economic conditions under Joe Biden were great.
The data is yet another rebuke to the politicians and commentators who insisted economic conditions under Joe Biden were great.
It’s Official: Poverty Got Worse Under Joe Biden
A new Census Bureau report establishes that poverty increased over the course of the Biden administration. The data is yet another rebuke to the politicians and commentators who insisted economic conditions under Joe Biden were great.
jacobin.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:42 AM
At some point people need to learn that the poverty rate is mostly about the safety net or lack thereof and not the economy. The economy was doing historically well, real wages rising for the first time in decades, etc. And poverty rose because pandemic safety policies expired.
Reposted by Will Thorne
Last weekend, I was thrilled to spend an evening with Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, Anya Schiffrin and a group of brilliant policy minds they gathered to discuss a range of issues facing our city.
September 22, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Last weekend, I was thrilled to spend an evening with Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, Anya Schiffrin and a group of brilliant policy minds they gathered to discuss a range of issues facing our city.
Reposted by Will Thorne
this is excellent www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
A Group of Socialists Created a Hit Game That Tore Them Apart (Gift Article)
The role-playing game Disco Elysium wowed critics by lacerating capitalism, communism and fascism. But instead of a sequel came bitter lawsuits and five rival studios.
www.nytimes.com
September 19, 2025 at 3:10 PM
this is excellent www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
So, the WSJ and the Guardian both printed damaging and irresponsible reporting and then issued quiet edits/corrections after the fact.
And someone who blames political violence on universities might take over at CBS.
What is the path forward here?
And someone who blames political violence on universities might take over at CBS.
What is the path forward here?
September 13, 2025 at 1:43 PM
So, the WSJ and the Guardian both printed damaging and irresponsible reporting and then issued quiet edits/corrections after the fact.
And someone who blames political violence on universities might take over at CBS.
What is the path forward here?
And someone who blames political violence on universities might take over at CBS.
What is the path forward here?
Schumer's legacy will be the complete and utter incompetence of his "leadership" in this moment.
The most patriotic thing he could do is resign and let someone who understands politics take control.
The most patriotic thing he could do is resign and let someone who understands politics take control.
September 7, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Schumer's legacy will be the complete and utter incompetence of his "leadership" in this moment.
The most patriotic thing he could do is resign and let someone who understands politics take control.
The most patriotic thing he could do is resign and let someone who understands politics take control.
There is no policy solution to hysteria. The idea that there's a voter being fed anti-immigrant slop, who is going to switch to vote for the Dems based on policy, is a fantasy.
The biggest problem American liberalism faces is how to maintain high levels of immigration while respecting the democratic will of the public. I have an idea.
www.theargumentmag.com/p/liberals-d...
www.theargumentmag.com/p/liberals-d...
Liberals don’t have to lose on immigration
“Moderating” on immigration doesn't mean abandoning it
www.theargumentmag.com
September 6, 2025 at 10:41 PM
There is no policy solution to hysteria. The idea that there's a voter being fed anti-immigrant slop, who is going to switch to vote for the Dems based on policy, is a fantasy.
Went to my first ever #NUFC match (and a trip to the UK), which has been a dream of mine for ages. The atmosphere was incredible, despite the result.
August 27, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Went to my first ever #NUFC match (and a trip to the UK), which has been a dream of mine for ages. The atmosphere was incredible, despite the result.
Reposted by Will Thorne
ABSOLUTE SCENES
"Grimsby have beaten Manchester United... in the most dramatic circumstances"
"Grimsby have beaten Manchester United... in the most dramatic circumstances"
August 27, 2025 at 9:27 PM
ABSOLUTE SCENES
"Grimsby have beaten Manchester United... in the most dramatic circumstances"
"Grimsby have beaten Manchester United... in the most dramatic circumstances"
Grimsby vs Man United match was incredible, watch the highlights.
August 27, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Grimsby vs Man United match was incredible, watch the highlights.
I suspect that the closest we can get to aesthetics regulation is to choose some local materials (a type of stone, or brick or whatever) to incorporate and otherwise say very little about design.
I like good looking buildings too.
After spending 15 years in land use, development and construction law and policy spaces, I am not convinced there are planning and regulatory methods where even a simple majority wouls agree as to constitutes “good design.”
After spending 15 years in land use, development and construction law and policy spaces, I am not convinced there are planning and regulatory methods where even a simple majority wouls agree as to constitutes “good design.”
July 23, 2025 at 2:35 AM
I suspect that the closest we can get to aesthetics regulation is to choose some local materials (a type of stone, or brick or whatever) to incorporate and otherwise say very little about design.
Reposted by Will Thorne
New "Joe Rogan of the Left" just dropped.
July 21, 2025 at 8:18 PM
New "Joe Rogan of the Left" just dropped.
Reposted by Will Thorne
Very pleased that our local projections dif-in-dif paper is now out in the Journal of Applied Econometrics. Joint with @dgirardi.bsky.social, Jorda, and Taylor.
It's a tool that we think many applied economists will find useful (indeed many already have).
🧵
It's a tool that we think many applied economists will find useful (indeed many already have).
🧵
July 20, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Very pleased that our local projections dif-in-dif paper is now out in the Journal of Applied Econometrics. Joint with @dgirardi.bsky.social, Jorda, and Taylor.
It's a tool that we think many applied economists will find useful (indeed many already have).
🧵
It's a tool that we think many applied economists will find useful (indeed many already have).
🧵
Reposted by Will Thorne
it’s true, that’s why you see cigarette advertising all over
A slightly weird aspect of American constitutional law is that the only way to restrict advertising for something — booze, pot, gambling, prescription drugs — is to make it illegal.
www.slowboring.com/p/we-probabl...
www.slowboring.com/p/we-probabl...
July 19, 2025 at 11:37 AM
it’s true, that’s why you see cigarette advertising all over