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Victor A. Matheson

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H-index: 29
Economics 43%
Sociology 18%
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by Victor A. Matheson — Reposted by: Brad R. Humphreys

victor-matheson.bsky.social
Happy to be featured on the latest episode of Freakonomics Radio discussing the crazy(???) idea of the NFL and NCAA merging and forming a promotion/relegation league.

freakonomics.com/podcast/the-...
The Merger You Never Knew You Wanted - Freakonomics
The Merger You Never Knew You Wanted - Freakonomics
freakonomics.com
4 7

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
I am passing up a B-52s/Devo concert to attend this

“Insights into Educational Inequality” better be as much a banger as “Whip It” or “Love Shack”!
dynarski.bsky.social
Prof Dynarski @dynarski.bsky.social · 9d
Giving a talk Holy Cross this week

Take that, Sister Carmelina

myhc.holycross.edu/mcfarlandctr...
Susan Dynarski / Insights into Educational Inequality - McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture
Susan Dynarski, an economist and Patricia Albjerg Graham Professor of Education at Harvard University, explains how the use of large-scale datasets and quantitative methods of causal inference in h...
myhc.holycross.edu
1

Reposted by: Victor A. Matheson

dynarski.bsky.social
Giving a talk Holy Cross this week

Take that, Sister Carmelina

myhc.holycross.edu/mcfarlandctr...
Susan Dynarski / Insights into Educational Inequality - McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture
Susan Dynarski, an economist and Patricia Albjerg Graham Professor of Education at Harvard University, explains how the use of large-scale datasets and quantitative methods of causal inference in h...
myhc.holycross.edu
2 26

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
If only Al Gore instead of GWB had been appointing SC Justices in the 2000s…

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
Why is everyone buying lottery tickets? I will tell you on @marketplace.org!

www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
Why is everyone buying lottery tickets?
With $103 billion spent on tickets in 2023, big jackpots and economic stress continue to fuel America’s lottery habit.
www.marketplace.org
1 3

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
Even if the WNBA has racked up operating losses of $500 million, the Mohegan Tribe alone has just earned a $315M capital gain by buying the CT Sun for $10M in 2003 and receiving a $325M bid to sell them this summer.

That alone covers over 1/2 of the league's "losses."
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by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
What I can't believe is legal is a government appointee using his role as director of the FHFA to target political opponents by selectively investigating Democratic lawmakers and appointees.

Imagine the outcry if Obama or Biden had done that to Republicans.

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
I don't know why anyone would trust a (reverse)carpetbagger like you to know anything about the Worcester sports market.

It's just too bad there aren't any decent sports economists in Worcester who could have given the city decent advice about the stadium.
jcbradbury.bsky.social
J.C. Bradbury @jcbradbury.bsky.social · 29d
Gosh, if only City officials had been warned forcefully and repeatedly by many knowledgeable experts that this is exactly what would happen.
Polar Park's second inning: Almost five years into a 35-year project, WooSox are still drawing fans, but key parcels are underutilized
Since a tense November meeting between Worcester Redevelopment Authority and key ballpark district stakeholder Madison Properties, not much has changed in terms of groundbreakings or sales at Madison-...
www.wbjournal.com
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Reposted by: Victor A. Matheson

jcbradbury.bsky.social
Gosh, if only City officials had been warned forcefully and repeatedly by many knowledgeable experts that this is exactly what would happen.
Polar Park's second inning: Almost five years into a 35-year project, WooSox are still drawing fans, but key parcels are underutilized
Since a tense November meeting between Worcester Redevelopment Authority and key ballpark district stakeholder Madison Properties, not much has changed in terms of groundbreakings or sales at Madison-...
www.wbjournal.com
1 4

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
Here's a good article showing how far Trump has split MAGA and traditional business Republicans. AEI, a wildly conservative traditional thinktank, is talking about how to improve electric cars. Trump is talking about how to eliminate them.

www.aei.org/research-pro...
www.aei.org
2

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
But to be fair, Steve Ballmer living out his midlife crisis by buying a sports team with his billions is probably better than Elon Musk living out his midlife crisis by destroying democracy.
jcbradbury.bsky.social
J.C. Bradbury @jcbradbury.bsky.social · 29d
Sounds like a group well deserving of taxpayer assistance.
America’s Richest Sports Team Owners 2025
The top 20 owners on The Forbes 400 are worth $607 billion, up 20% from 2024. And with the cutoff rising to $10.1 billion, the club is more exclusive than ever.
www.forbes.com
5

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
Good job by the state of Illinois understanding the basics of stadium finance. While you ***might*** be able to argue for local subsidies, there is no way the state makes anything simply moving a stadium from one location in the state to another.

frontofficesports.com/bears-withou...
Bears, Without State Funding, Officially Pivot Stadium to Suburbs
The Bears have declared their days along the downtown Chicago lakefront as numbered, announcing plans for a new stadium in Arlington Heights.
frontofficesports.com
3

Reposted by: Victor A. Matheson

jcbradbury.bsky.social
Sounds like a group well deserving of taxpayer assistance.
America’s Richest Sports Team Owners 2025
The top 20 owners on The Forbes 400 are worth $607 billion, up 20% from 2024. And with the cutoff rising to $10.1 billion, the club is more exclusive than ever.
www.forbes.com
3 7

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
Nope. Huge stadium subsidy for Boston’s new NWSL team.

I’ll try to think of some others…
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by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
If NFL stadiums cause great neighborhoods, why does the current neighborhood next to the new stadium need to be revitalized? It's been next to an NFL stadium for almost 30 years?
1 6

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
I wonder if any economists have studied the economic benefits of new stadiums…
dhnexon.bsky.social
Dan Nexon @dhnexon.bsky.social · Sep 2
She must *really* want that stadium.
Bowser welcomes federal law enforcement presence indefinitely
Bowser issued an executive order Tuesday requiring local coordination with federal law enforcement “to the maximum extent allowable by law.” The order gives no expiration date.
www.washingtonpost.com
2 1 9

Reposted by: Victor A. Matheson, Brad R. Humphreys

dhnexon.bsky.social
She must *really* want that stadium.
Bowser welcomes federal law enforcement presence indefinitely
Bowser issued an executive order Tuesday requiring local coordination with federal law enforcement “to the maximum extent allowable by law.” The order gives no expiration date.
www.washingtonpost.com
5 6 37

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
So, the US military is now engaging in extrajudicial assassinations of citizens of countries we are not at war with?

That somehow sounds bad when I say it like that...

www.cnn.com/2025/09/02/p...
US military ‘conducted a lethal strike’ on alleged ‘drug vessel’ in southern Caribbean, Rubio says | CNN Politics
The United States “conducted a lethal strike” against an alleged “drug vessel” in the southern Caribbean, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday.
www.cnn.com
2 4

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
We’ll invite you to a seminar at Holy Cross sometime, and grab one afterwards.
1

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
Hah! Almost just stopped by Treehouse on my way home from Worcester. So add,

5) Day not ruined by random
visit from economist crashing your pleasant beer at Treehouse.
1

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
Firing the head of BLS. Dismantling the independence of the Federal Reserve.
1

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
It is wildly depressing that our primary economic data collection agency is now slated to be run by a guy with such poor qualifications that he wouldn't be competitive for an assistant professor job at my college.

www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-bls-nominee-e-j-antoni-suspending-monthly-jobs-report/
Trump's BLS nominee E.J. Antoni suggests suspending monthly jobs report
E.J. Antoni, an economist nominated by President Trump to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, said the jobs report is flawed.
www.cbsnews.com
1 2 7

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
Can’t we think of a more efficient use of taxpayer money like maybe sports stadiums?

www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
Duffy to announce nuclear reactor on the moon
This is the first major agency effort by the interim NASA administrator, who is also the Transportation secretary and a former Fox News host.
www.politico.com
5

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
Met this guy walking with my dog today.

Fortunately coyotes are typically only dangerous if you have small animals, your pet is unleashed, or the coyote is carrying any packages labeled “ACME”.
1 3

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
Yeah, I don’t think this is right at all. The only thing Wolfers got potentially wrong in 2020 is to say that the BLS hadn’t been compromised in any way ***yet***.

Trump 2025 is a way different (and worse) beast than Trump 2020.
2

Reposted by: Victor A. Matheson, Christian Odendahl, Margaret Mitchell , and 46 more

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
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by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
Trump in a social media post said Erika McEntarfer, the BLS commissioner, would be “replaced with someone much more competent and qualified,” asserting without evidence that the government’s jobs numbers have been manipulated for political purposes.

This is bad. Like East Germany or Zimbabwe bad.
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Reposted by: Victor A. Matheson

zensoul.bsky.social
#ProudBlue Typical for the felon - the jobs number isn’t his responsibility - let’s fire the messenger. 🙄🤬

Trump demands official overseeing jobs data be fired after dismal employment report.

apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump demands official overseeing jobs data be fired after dismal employment report
President Donald Trump said Friday that he has directed his team to fire the head of the agency that produces the monthly jobs figures, after a weak report showed hiring slowed and was much weaker in ...
apnews.com
28 66 160

Reposted by: Victor A. Matheson, Stephen M. Walt, Daniel W. Drezner , and 1 more

kairyssdal.bsky.social
Just so’s we’re all clear, almost 3/4 of everything we buy from Europe is now 15% more expensive.
620 4.5K 16K

by Victor A. Matheson

victor-matheson.bsky.social
Yeah, the claim of 1M additional tourists due to WC is insane.
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References

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Updated 1m