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Aine Seitz McCarthy

@ainesmccarthy.bsky.social

1K followers 580 following 26 posts

Development economist | Assoc prof at Lewis & Clark | Health, education, and fertility | Outdoor enthusiast | Aine = “ Ahn - ya “

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Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · May 9

My op-ed in the @latimes.com on the insufficient and ineffective baby bonus idea for Mother’s Day (come on, we need some actual help here)

t.co/AR7IPWJxM4

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2025-05-09/trump-birth-rate-pronatalism-mothers-day

t.co

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Reposted by Aine Seitz McCarthy

Justin Wolfers @justinwolfers.bsky.social · Aug 4

“On June 15, 1992, [Dan] Quayle altered 12-year-old student William Figueroa's correct spelling of "potato" to "potatoe" at the Muñoz Rivera Elementary School spelling bee in Trenton, New Jersey. He was the subject of widespread ridicule for his error.” — @wikipedia.org

Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · Aug 4

Trump: You know, we've cut drug prices by 1200, 1300, 1400, 1,500%. I don't mean 50%. I mean 1400, 1,500%

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David Evans @daveevansphd.bsky.social · Aug 1

A life skills / soccer playing intervention among boys and a goal setting intervention among girls each reduce girls' reports of intimate partner violence. manishashah.net/wp-content/u... Shah presenting evidence from Tanzania at #LACDEV2025

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Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · Aug 2

In a world where the number of children under 5 that will die this year is greater than last year… It does feel like problem of sharing health data is a bit to the right of the decimal point

Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · Jun 22

Amy Damon presenting her work on time use in Indonesia during our fantastic session on households and gender at @weai.bsky.social. Thanks to @lindseynovak.bsky.social for presenting a real fun topic and to @econprachi.bsky.social for organizing!

Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · May 9

“Paid parental leave and public child care would indeed increase the birth rate, but by small amounts. These policies are needed because American parents (especially mothers) are screaming for help.”

#econsky

Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · May 9

www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...

Contributor: What to give Americans for Mother's Day? More than a baby bonus

Other policies would do more to make parents' lives manageable. But a check is a good start toward fighting child poverty.

www.latimes.com

Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · May 9

My op-ed in the @latimes.com on the insufficient and ineffective baby bonus idea for Mother’s Day (come on, we need some actual help here)

t.co/AR7IPWJxM4

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2025-05-09/trump-birth-rate-pronatalism-mothers-day

t.co

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Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · Apr 29

"You’d think the admin would want to focus on increasing- not cutting- funding to maternal and child health, repairing its self-inflicted econ wounds, and lowering the cost of living ... before asking young people to bring children into the world"

Turns our left & right are not far apart on this.

Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · Apr 29

And Klas from @bloomberg.com "the choice to create a new life isn’t only a financial calculation. It’s also a profound act of hope…

www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

A Baby Boom? In This Economy?

The White House is full of pronatalist rhetoric — and anti-baby policies.

www.bloomberg.com

Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · Apr 29

"Doom-mongering about economic downturns and impending social collapse is unlikely to inspire anyone to have more children, a decision that normally signals confidence in the future”

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Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · Apr 29

Ok, this is actually a great point from Kristina Murkett in the @thespectator1828.bsky.social :

“We have removed the... community networks that make parenting more manageable, and no subsidy can compensate for these huge social and cultural changes"

www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-...

How Trump could reverse America's baby bust

Government interventions do not work because they do not compensate for the opportunity cost of having children.

www.spectator.co.uk

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Reposted by Aine Seitz McCarthy

Molly Jeffery, PhD MPP @mollyjeffery.bsky.social · Apr 29

This was a really good summary for people not in the field to understand what’s at stake. The part I’m so glad he drew attention to is the dignity shown by the public servants affected, unlike those destroying our health and science infrastructure

KVRhodes @kvrhodes.bsky.social · Apr 29

What RFK is doing to HHS and public health www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H34...

RFK Jr. & HHS: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

YouTube video by LastWeekTonight

www.youtube.com

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Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · Apr 14

Lindsey Novak and I are hosting LACDEV in Portland this year- waterfalls and breweries may be on the agenda. August 1-2.

Come talk RCTs and DID estimators with us for a couple days, and bring your family to experience the joy of Oregon in August!

#econsky

Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · Apr 14

Last day to submit your papers to LACDEV (Liberal Arts College Development Economics Conference- the nerdiest and chattiest dev conference out there)

sites.google.com/site/lacdevc...

Home

Mission Statement This annual conference brings together faculty working in Development Economics at Liberal Arts Colleges. The intention of the conference is to provide a forum to discuss recent research and teaching in development economics. The conference takes place annually and rotates among

sites.google.com

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Reposted by Aine Seitz McCarthy

Joshua Goodman @joshua-goodman.com · Apr 14

Interesting new research suggesting one reason women are less likely to major in STEM, economics, and business is that they expect to face labor market discrimination later in those fields (so that the return to such majors is lower).

www.nber.org/papers/w33680

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Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · Feb 15

Who doesn’t love moss?? LC’s moss appreciation week on Morning Edition this week:

www.npr.org/2025/02/14/n...

'Moss Appreciation Week': a lot of celebration for a very little plant

Moss Appreciation Week is packed with events both scientific... and also silly. Moss walks, moss talks, moss movies, crafting moss-themed Valentines, and a "gastropod derby" with snails and slugs (for...

www.npr.org

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Reposted by Aine Seitz McCarthy

Al Roth @alroth.bsky.social · Jan 28

"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
"Then they came for the trade unionists
…
"Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

—Martin Niemöller
#econsky #academicsky

marketdesigner.blogspot.com/2025/01/pres...

Presidential memo shuts down all government grants (now including NSF)

marketdesigner.blogspot.com

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Our World in Data @ourworldindata.org · Dec 10

The world is awful. The world is much better. The world can be much better.

All three statements are true at the same time. Understanding this is key to solving big global problems.

We believe data & research can help us understand both the problems we face & the progress that’s possible. 🧵

A chart in three parts showing data on child mortality to make the points that "The world is awful. The world is much better. The world can be much better. All three statements are true at the same time."

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Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · Dec 6

My op-ed on economic policies and the election was published today in the Los Angeles Times:

www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...

#econsky

Opinion: America needs to retake Econ 101

If we're going to vote based on concerns about cost of living, we need to know what levers government can pull and which promises are plausible.

www.latimes.com

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Al Roth @alroth.bsky.social · Nov 27

States that criminalize abortion are losing obstetricians.
#econsky

marketdesigner.blogspot.com/2024/11/the-...

The labor market for Ob-Gyn docs, in states that criminalize abortion

marketdesigner.blogspot.com

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Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · Nov 20

🙋🏼‍♀️ I swear I am fun, for an economist

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Reposted by Aine Seitz McCarthy

Aaron Sojourner @aaronsojourner.org · Nov 19

📉📈 insights into how tariff taxes would raise consumer prices.
finance.yahoo.com/news/pass-th...

"We Will Pass Those Tariff Costs Back To The Consumer," Says CEO Of AutoZone. Here's A Look At Other Companies Raising Prices

President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs have already begun to upend businesses in several industries and many are taking action to safeguard their profits. The tariffs, which include a 10-20% ...

finance.yahoo.com

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Reposted by Aine Seitz McCarthy

Sandile Hlatshwayo @femmeeconomics.bsky.social · Nov 16

Nice 🧵 on @fkamal.bsky.social’s super insightful blog about how broad-based import tariffs can harm the U.S. economy by reducing competitiveness, disrupting supply chains, hitting at job growth, and provoking retaliation. 📉📈 #econsky #exportersareimporters

Jonas Nahm @jonasnahm.com · Nov 15

This excellent piece by Fariha Kamal shows why broad-based import tariffs can backfire: 84% of US exports and 91% of US imports are handled by firms that both export AND import goods. These companies are deeply integrated into global supply chains. 1/

www.briefingbook.info/p/why-broad-...

Why broad-based import tariffs can hurt exports and manufacturing jobs

Across-the-board tariff hikes can inhibit long-term competitiveness because manufacturers rely on imported inputs and contribute disproportionately to overall exports and manufacturing job growth

www.briefingbook.info

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Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · Nov 13

Thanks to partners: Enabel, Trias, SFTZ, and to support from
@agnesq.bsky.social, IFPRI, Gates Foundation.

The pdf is available to download for FREE EVERYWHERE because the wonderful @melindagates foundation covered our open access fees!

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Age and Agency: Evidence from a Women’s Empowerment Program in Tanzania

Understanding the effectiveness of programs designed to empower women is important for development policy, and critically important in places with his…

www.sciencedirect.com

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Aine Seitz McCarthy @ainesmccarthy.bsky.social · Nov 13

Takeaway: Age matters for efforts to empower. It’s hard to change deeply established patriarchal marital or market norms… but the revolution has always been in the hands of the young.

a cartoon of people holding signs that say we are the future

ALT: a cartoon of people holding signs that say we are the future

media.tenor.com