Treb Allen
@treballen.bsky.social
2.8K followers 200 following 4 posts
Economics professor, Dartmouth College.
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Reposted by Treb Allen
brendannyhan.bsky.social
Using regulatory pressure and threats to silence critics is straight out of the authoritarian playbook
Reposted by Treb Allen
jeffsharlet.bsky.social
The military takeover of Washington is not a “distraction” from Epstein. It’s a military takeover of Washington, which is an even bigger deal, and those of us who kill brain cells reporting on this stuff knows it’s been an explicit goal since before the election.
Reposted by Treb Allen
dynarski.bsky.social
Erika McEntarfer, fired as BLS head by Trump

…got her PhD in 2002

…has 47 publications

…which have 1327 citations
Reposted by Treb Allen
dynarski.bsky.social
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
Reposted by Treb Allen
durlauf.bsky.social
1/Kevin Hassett had long ago discredited himself as a scholar by parroting claims about the economy he knew to be false. Even so, parroting the lie about rigged statistics, is a new low. The academy should ostracize him the same way a fabricator of research should be ostracized.
nbcnews.com
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett defends President Trump’s decision to fire the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as well as the president’s claim that weaker-than-expected jobs reports were “rigged,” but failed to produce any evidence to support Trump’s claim.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett defends Trump's firing of labor statistics head
In an interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press," Hassett called for a "fresh set of eyes" at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
nbcnews.to
Reposted by Treb Allen
brendannyhan.bsky.social
Columbia is currently on step 1 of failing the Lando test. Ask the law firms about steps 2-4.
Reposted by Treb Allen
annaschapiro.bsky.social
"this deal is unlikely to end the attacks. The federal government, and this administration, is simply too powerful and too arbitrary to be credibly bargained with."

www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/o...
Opinion | Columbia’s Administrators Are Fooling Themselves
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Treb Allen
cesifo.org
CESifo @cesifo.org · Jul 18
3 days with an amazing line-up of instructors and poster sessions by junior researchers at the end of each day are over!

It's been great hosting 3rd Summer School in International Economics by @jintlecon.bsky.social.

Thanks to @rationalitycrc.bsky.social for supporting this event!
Reposted by Treb Allen
reddingecon.bsky.social
Call for Papers for NBER Economics of Transportation in the 21st Century Virtual Conference, October 24, 2024, organized with Ed Glaeser and Jim Poterba: stephenredding.github.io/Call_for_Pap.... Submission Deadline Weds Sept 3, 11.59 ET. @nber.org @siepr.bsky.social @treballen.bsky.social
stephenredding.github.io
Reposted by Treb Allen
sbagen.bsky.social
There's no declaration of war, and no AUMF that covers this. Entering this war is wrong on the merits; we had a perfectly peaceful way to address Iran's nuclear program. It's also unlawful. A democratic republic should not be able to enter a war of choice on one man's say-so.
keithboykin.bsky.social
The US has hust dropped bombs on three Iranian nuclear sites, according to Trump, bringing American military forces into Israel’s war with Iran.
Reposted by Treb Allen
kiel.institute
📢 Join us for the next Kiel-CEPR research seminar: @treballen.bsky.social (Dartmouth) will present his research on the economic structure of US slavery on the eve of the Civil War, which quantifies the welfare gains from emancipation. Register here 👉 ifw-kiel.de/institute/ev...
@cepr.org
Reposted by Treb Allen
petebuttigieg.bsky.social
America cannot long remain free, nor first among nations, if it becomes the kind of place where universities are dismantled because they don't align politically with the current head of the government.
treballen.bsky.social
The Globalization Cluster at Dartmouth is hiring a pre-doctoral fellow for a two year position starting this summer or fall. International candidates welcome. Take courses. Great placement record. Friendly group! Apply here: apply.interfolio.com/167442 @dartmouthartsci.bsky.social
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio
apply.interfolio.com
Reposted by Treb Allen
reddingecon.bsky.social
Call for papers for NBER-Sloan conference on Transport Networks and the Spatial Distribution of Economic Activity: www.princeton.edu/~reddings/Ca... Deadline: June 30, 2025. Organized with Myrto Kalouptsidi. @nber.org @treballen.bsky.social @jintlecon.bsky.social @indorgsociety.bsky.social
www.princeton.edu
Reposted by Treb Allen
justinwolfers.bsky.social
"I'm going to govern in econometrics" is a winning campaign slogan for the ages.
Reposted by Treb Allen
fishkin.bsky.social
University leaders need to understand: they are holding INCREDIBLY good cards.

It is so rare in today's polarized era to have the support of 70+ percent of the public against the Trump admiministration on anything. Universities have that—AND winning legal arguments.
Graphic of Washington Post poll from April 18-22, 2025, showing "Majorities of Americans oppose various Trump proposals"

highlighting two lines in particular:
"Increasing the Federal Government's role in how private universities operate" - 28 percent support, 70 percent oppose
"Reducing federal funding for medical research" - 21 percent support, 77 percent oppose
Reposted by Treb Allen
undercoverhist.bsky.social
1/n From the archive: is Econ graduate education at risk of training "savants idiots", 1990 edition

Fears that econ graduate training has become too technicized has led, once again, to educational debates, so the AEA launched a huuuuuge survey of grad education, under the leadership of Ann Krueger
Reposted by Treb Allen
whstancil.bsky.social
This is archetypally impeachable. Trump’s innovation is to just announce it publicly, so it gets framed as a controversial political choice instead of what it is: a crime against the Constitution.
sbagen.bsky.social
This is an incredibly dangerous step: The President is going to personally direct the Attorney General to investigate (presumably criminally) the principal fundraising website for Democratic Party-affiliated candidates and organizations. Fundamentally antidemocratic. www.cnn.com/2025/04/24/p...
Trump to target Democratic fundraising powerhouse ActBlue with DOJ probe | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump is slated to issue a memorandum on Thursday targeting ActBlue, the Democratic Party’s main fundraising platform – taking aim at one of the key pillars of the financial infrastru...
www.cnn.com
Reposted by Treb Allen
brendannyhan.bsky.social
Straight out of the authoritarian playbook and incredibly dangerous
sbagen.bsky.social
This is an incredibly dangerous step: The President is going to personally direct the Attorney General to investigate (presumably criminally) the principal fundraising website for Democratic Party-affiliated candidates and organizations. Fundamentally antidemocratic. www.cnn.com/2025/04/24/p...
Trump to target Democratic fundraising powerhouse ActBlue with DOJ probe | CNN Politics
President Donald Trump is slated to issue a memorandum on Thursday targeting ActBlue, the Democratic Party’s main fundraising platform – taking aim at one of the key pillars of the financial infrastru...
www.cnn.com
Reposted by Treb Allen
justinwolfers.bsky.social
As you assess the DEAL we're striking with Korea, remember: We ALREADY have an active free trade agreement with Korea that provides tariff free trade in nearly everything.

Expect this new agreement to... Provide for tariff free trade in nearly everything.

Just like 6 weeks ago.
Reposted by Treb Allen
mdoepke.bsky.social
30 years after arriving in the US, I just resigned from Northwestern and we sold our house.

We are an American family, I became a citizen in 2014, and until recently did not expect to ever leave. But now, this no longer feels like the right place to raise a family and pursue a research career.
Reposted by Treb Allen
larryglickman.bsky.social
Steve Kerr: "I believe in academic freedom. I think it's crucial for all of our institutions to be able to handle their own business the way they want to. And they should not be shaken down and told what to teach, what to say, by our government. That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
benross.bsky.social
Steve Kerr wore a Harvard basketball shirt after the Warriors’ win tonight: “Yes, this is me supporting Harvard. Way to go. Way to stand up to the bully.”
Reposted by Treb Allen
sarahlongwell25.bsky.social
He’s threatening media companies who are critical of him.

He’s talking about sending Americans to foreign prisons.

He’s signing executive orders to investigate former staff members who spoke out against him.

He’s defying the Supreme Court.

Don’t you see what’s happening here?