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Emma Rackstraw

@emmarackstraw.bsky.social

1.8K followers 320 following 31 posts

Economist studying criminal justice issues and labor markets. Assistant Professor of Economics at Swarthmore College. #econsky www.emmarackstraw.com

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Emma Rackstraw @emmarackstraw.bsky.social · Nov 7

(1/many) #EconSky My job market paper investigates what police propaganda and its effects can teach us about the institution of policing. t.co/5bzHCTdmR2

When Reality TV Creates Reality: How “Copaganda” Affects Police, Communities, and Viewers

Television shows with police officer protagonists are ubiquitous on American television. Both fictional shows and reality shows portray a world where criminals

t.co

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Reposted by Emma Rackstraw

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · Jan 31

A new era of government censorship has begun.
It started with the silencing of scientific speech, when the admin blocked release of research on bird flu. But MAGA has also cracked down on other wrongthink—on race, geography (!), and of course Trump himself
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Opinion | A new era of government censorship has dawned

Donald Trump fancies himself a champion of free speech. Oh, really?

www.washingtonpost.com

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Emma Rackstraw @emmarackstraw.bsky.social · 19d

We love you @lkatz42.bsky.social!

Anna Gifty @itsafronomics.bsky.social · 19d

Today, I'm unfortunately missing one of my favorite educators being recognized for being an amazing advisor, colleague, educator, researcher, and friend. Cheers to a man who has really changed my life!

@lkatz42.bsky.social thanks for being you. #econsky

The Inequality Economist

Bob Simison profiles Harvard’s Lawrence F. Katz, whose research changed economists’ understanding of economic disparity

www.imf.org

Reposted by Emma Rackstraw

Tatyana Deryugina @tderyugina.bsky.social · Aug 27

Over 125 economists signed the open letter calling on the President, Congress, and the American public to uphold the principles of Federal Reserve independence and not remove Lisa Cook without due process.

There's still time to sign! And please share.

#EconSky

docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Open letter

Click here to add your signature. An Open Letter from Economists in Support of Governor Lisa Cook and Federal Reserve Independence To the President, Members of Congress, and the American public: We wr...

docs.google.com

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Emma Rackstraw @emmarackstraw.bsky.social · Aug 25

Vocalist tricks are helpful! Steam, throat coat tea, warming up your voice before class, then vocal rest after.

Reposted by Emma Rackstraw

Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · Aug 20

You guys. The Lisa Cook story isn’t about her mortgages. Please please please stop being so credulous.

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Reposted by Emma Rackstraw

Aaron Sojourner @aaronsojourner.org · Aug 20

POTUS and the AG abusing their public powers to try to gain more public power.

The Fed has 7 governors. Trump appointed 2 last term. One is vacant. One more vacant seat will yield a majority.

Dr. Cook fills the seat with the longest term (to 2038) & is the only Black woman on the board.

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Reposted by Emma Rackstraw

Prof Dynarski @dynarski.bsky.social · Aug 2

Statement from the largest economics association about the BLS firing

As context: AEA approximately never makes such public statements

This is a big deal

August 1, 2025
AMERICAN ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION
Committee on Economic Statistics and Committee on Government Relations

Statement from the American Economic Association on the
Dismissal of the BLS Commissioner

Leaders of the American Economic Association express their grave concern over the dismissal of the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) earlier today.
The independence of the federal statistical agencies is essential to the proper functioning of a modern economy. Accurate, timely, and impartial statistics are the foundation upon which households, businesses, and policymakers make critical decisions. Undermining the independence or credibility of these agencies threatens the integrity of the information that markets, institutions, and the public rely on every day.
Measuring the vast and dynamic U.S. economy in real time is inherently challenging. It is standard practice for statistical estimates to be revised as more complete and higher-quality data become available. These revisions reflect the commitment of statistical agencies to accuracy, transparency, and methodological rigor-not failure or bias.
The BLS has long had a well-deserved reputation for professional excellence and nonpartisan integrity.
Safeguarding this tradition is vital for the continued health of the U.S. economy and public trust in our institutions.
We call upon elected officials to respect and preserve the independence of the nation's statistical infrastructure.

Lawrence Katz
President, American Economic Association
Katharine Abraham
President-Elect, American Economic Association
Karen Dynan
Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Economic Statistics
Kenneth Troske
Chair, American Economic Association Committee on Government Relations

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Emma Rackstraw @emmarackstraw.bsky.social · Aug 1

Aaaaand it turns out they sent an encrypted .accdb file that can’t be opened. Excellent.

Reposted by Emma Rackstraw

Aaron Sojourner @aaronsojourner.org · Aug 1

What to make of POTUS's attempt to fire the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)?

Let's run down what knowledgable people are saying...

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Emma Rackstraw @emmarackstraw.bsky.social · Jul 25

…and you realize it’s on a CD-ROM you’re going to have to take to your public library to use 😂

Emma Rackstraw @emmarackstraw.bsky.social · Jul 25

TFW your FOIA request from 9 months ago arrives in your mailbox…

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Emma Rackstraw @emmarackstraw.bsky.social · Jul 22

It’s been such a privilege to learn from the amazing folks at @quattronecenter.org this year

Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice @quattronecenter.org · Jul 22

Congratulations to our brilliant outgoing fellows, @lauragabelson.bsky.social and @emmarackstraw.bsky.social, who are moving on to change the world and educate the next generation of systems-based criminal justice reformers.

Laura, left, holding a red shirt with a white mustang and SMU in large blue lettering. Emma, right, holding a maroon shirt with Swarthmore College on it in white lettering.

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Reposted by Emma Rackstraw

David Bier @davidjbier.bsky.social · Jun 24

ICE is nabbing far more noncriminals off the streets than people with criminal convictions: four times more. cato.org/blog/ice-arr...

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Reposted by Emma Rackstraw

David Bier @davidjbier.bsky.social · Jun 24

New data show that ICE is pulling record numbers of people off the streets who have no criminal convictions of any kind. This is not just a change from the Biden admin. This is a radical tactical shift compared to Trump 1.0. These arrests are up over 1,000% from 2017.
www.cato.org/blog/ice-arr...

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Emma Rackstraw @emmarackstraw.bsky.social · Jun 10

@harvard.edu what are you doing to protect and support your grad students whose NSF GRFP grants were terminated today?

Emma Rackstraw @emmarackstraw.bsky.social · Jun 7

I would argue you’re one now??? You wrote the damn thing already

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Reposted by Emma Rackstraw

Jennifer Doleac @jenniferdoleac.bsky.social · May 30

Call for papers: NBER meeting on The Economics of Firearm Markets, Crime, and Gun Violence - October 10 in Cambridge, MA

Deadline: June 4

www.nber.org/calls-papers...

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Reposted by Emma Rackstraw

ProPublica @propublica.org · May 26

Controversies have prompted at least a half-dozen cities to cancel their contracts or end their relationships with “The First 48.”

Here’s why Dallas, Memphis and Mobile have stopped working with the long-running cop reality show.

Police Across the U.S. Welcomed Cop Show “The First 48.” Then Relationships Soured.

Partnerships between police and the popular reality show, once enthusiastic and mutually beneficial, have often turned into breakups. Here’s how that has played out in three cities.

www.propublica.org

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Emma Rackstraw @emmarackstraw.bsky.social · May 5

@marthagimbel.bsky.social read this and immediately thought “bet I know that Gimbel”

Reposted by Emma Rackstraw

Quattrone Center for the Fair Administration of Justice @quattronecenter.org · Apr 22

This investigation echoes the findings of QC Research Fellow @emmarackstraw.bsky.social, whose paper on "copaganda" found that arrests for low-level, victimless crimes increase by 20% while departments film with reality television shows.

Her 2023 paper is here:

When Reality TV Creates Reality: How “Copaganda” Affects Police, Communities, and Viewers

Television shows with police officer protagonists are ubiquitous on American television. Both fictional shows and reality shows portray a world where criminals

papers.ssrn.com

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Reposted by Emma Rackstraw

Scott Delaney @scott-delaney.bsky.social · Apr 19

🙏 We need your help 🙏

The government continues to cancel grants at both NIH and NSF to censor science it doesn't like.

We're tracking terminations to organize and advocate. Please report your terminated grants:

NIH:
forms.gle/J2znQ7y7YpeP...

NSF: airtable.com/appGKlSVeXni...

w/ @noamross.net

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Emma Rackstraw @emmarackstraw.bsky.social · Apr 18

Econ of crime folks, what are your favorite books you’ve read on the criminal justice system? Not written by an economist, but something one could read through an economist’s lens. (I’m looking for book report project ideas for undergrads!)

Reposted by Emma Rackstraw

Bitsy Perlman @bitsyperlman.bsky.social · Apr 18

JOE is still open for posting jobs! It's one of the things we, the AEA committee on the job market, would like to officially encourage especially given the current environment
@johncawley.bsky.social
@aeainformation.bsky.social

Kathryn Anne Edwards @kedseconomist.com · Apr 17

#econsky Has anyone been compiling resources, openings, leads, something for laid off federal economists?

Obviously there’s JOE but we’re also off cycle.

Much thanks.

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Emma Rackstraw @emmarackstraw.bsky.social · Apr 18

There are so many reasons I feel so privileged to work in education, but ordering instructor copies of books I’m thinking of assigning is up there. No one talks about the free book loophole!!!!! We are among the luckiest people alive!!

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Reposted by Emma Rackstraw

Trevon Logan @trevondlogan.bsky.social · Apr 14

Very excited to have this paper with @franciscaantman.bsky.social Bruce Weinberg, and Sgeng Qu out on the (positive!) long run effects of the @aeainformation.bsky.social Mentoring program.

www.nber.org/papers/w33689

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