John A. List

I'm sticking with the experimentalists. It's not denial or blind positivity; it's refusing to let sadness or outrage freeze us into inaction. There's work to do, and it starts and ends with being humane humans.

Because every experiment starts with optimism. You have to believe something can be better before you will bother testing it. Pessimists do not run experiments. They have already decided on the answer.

I have received an unusual number of DMs on what's happening in the US. When I reflect on recent events, I am deeply saddened but find some comfort in thinking like an experimentalist.

Why?

Munich in September, great colleagues, and a field that matters. If you're working on economics of education, please join us at the CESifo Economics of Education conference!

Rick and Ludger (woessmann.bsky.social) always put together a very stimulating conference.

Alright everyone I heard you! We have nearly 1000 applications to the CSEE and we are not even to the deadline!

This means two very positive things: first, experimental economics is thriving (and more!). Second, we need to do more of these summer schools.

Latin America, you're next—stay tuned!

The deadline is here! Last call for applications to the Chicago School in Experimental Economics in Japan. This free summer school will take place June 22–26, 2026 at the University of Osaka.

Apply here: voices.uchicago.edu/jlist/the-ch...
Questions? Contact melissade4@uchicago.edu

Economics is really for everyone and everypup! Here is @drdanasuskind.bsky.social asking John Nash if she wants to go to the Economics department today.

If only my own students would get this excited about economics!

Very kind, thanks so much @markgsheppard.com!

If that link does not work please try this one:

ideas.repec.org/p/feb/natura...

What hits home runs in the minors but strikes out in the majors?
Most pilot programs.

They dazzle in pilots and flop at scale. My new study (ideas.repec.org/p/feb/natura...) offers a model for designing interventions that anticipate scaling challenges early.

Let's make scaling a scientific object!

Consumer Demand and Market Competition with Time-Intensive Goods by Joseph Goodman, Lancelot Henry de Frahan, Justin Holz, @johnlist.bsky.social, Evan McKay, Niall McMenamin, Sally Sadoff & Hal Sider

Excited to announce that this year's Advances with Field Experiments conference will take place at the University of Chicago on September 17-18, 2026.

@johnlist.bsky.social and I will send out a call for abstracts early in the Spring.

bfi.uchicago.edu/events/event...

@katymilkman.bsky.social

My FOMO has now been maximized...by a picture just sent! I had to miss this year, but the AEAs are always a favorite, largely because of the brilliant economists.

Pictured below are two of them on the market: Haruka and Danielle. Good luck to you both, keep changing the world and making us proud!

Thanks for sharing!

The effect of the left-digit in ride-sharing apps is significant—research by @johnlist.bsky.social et al suggests as much as $160M in profit is left in the table by not using it:

buff.ly/QaM34hn

The holidays are a good time to step back from the research and remember what it's all for. Grateful for family, for colleagues who push my thinking, and for the chance to do work that might make a small difference.

Wishing you and yours a restful break and a bright 2026!

Excited to announce the 4th Chicago School in Experimental Economics is heading to Osaka, Japan!

Join us in June 2026 for an intensive week on frontier experimental methods. We'll cover my textbook (lnkd.in/eT9Ci-YT) and you'll have the chance to present your research. Apply here: lnkd.in/grVg68Qn

Wonderful conference! I urge all to mark their calendars.

Happy 1-year anniversary to the most incredible couple I know—Francesca & Eli! You two are brilliant, kind, and absolutely unstoppable together. Here’s to many more years of love, laughter, and changing the world in your own beautiful way.

Love you both!😍😍

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Sending all my love.

Never forget that the best things at the table aren't on the plates. Today's data point: you matter deeply to someone. Let them know how much they matter to you. Wishing you a Thanksgiving full of exactly that.

Experimental Economics: Theory and Practice Experimental Economics: Theory and Practice: 9780226820675: Economics Books @ Amazon.com

The first foreign translation contract for my new Experimental Economics textbook has just come in—from Greece! There's a certain poetic justice here: given how many Greek letters fill the equations, they're essentially translating it back to the original language.🇬🇷📚
www.amazon.com/Experimental...

We have 2 postdoc positions to work with @johnlist.bsky.social's Experimental Econ team:

1 to be involved with
JILAEE (www.aeaweb.org/joe/listing....) based in Buenos Aires and Chicago &

1 based at UChicago (job-boards.greenhouse.io/universityof...)

Apply if you want to work with us!

Heading out to Philadelphia for the 15th Annual Behavioral Science and Health Symposium. This promises to be a really super event with great speakers.

All are invited! You can find the agenda and register here: chibeevents.my.canva.site/2025symposium

Hope to see you on Friday!

Interview Scheduling Strategies of New Ph.D. Economists Given the importance of job placement for Ph.D.s, it is surprising that economists have not closely examined the factors that affect procuring job interviews for new Ph.D. economists.' In this study,

Not exactly the success story you'd want to emulate! That said, that experience did cause me to collect data, and publish the results: ideas.repec.org/p/feb/natura...

So while I can't offer personal success secrets, I can offer data. I usually like that better anyways!

It's job market season for PhD economists, and my inbox is filling up with requests for advice. Given the PhD job market this year, I understand why people are seeking guidance wherever they can find it.

But let's be honest: I'm probably the last person you should ask—150 applications, 1 interview.

Our Best Chance to Make Real Change? Scalable Ideas with Pri Presentation Slides

Our Best Chance to Make Real Change? Scalable Ideas with Private Partners

That is the title of my discussion this afternoon with a group of University of Chicago students. Slides are here, which include a field experiment with airline pilots and scaling insights: ideas.repec.org/p/feb/natura...

Shout out to @johnlist.bsky.social, @gubri.bsky.social and Sabrina Liu on this work!

I'm personally particularly pumped that @beckerfriedman.bsky.social will be helping build on these findings!

Introducing The SPEAK: A Scalable Computer- Adaptive Tool to Measure Knowledge of Early Human Development | Becker Friedman Institute Research shows responsive caregiving enhances children’s brain development, with parental knowledge predicting positive behaviors and outcomes. However, knowledge varies widely across educational leve...

Introducing SPEAK—a scalable, computer-adaptive tool to measure knowledge of early human development. By Gaudreau, Levine, @johnlist.bsky.social & @drdanasuskind.bsky.social, it identifies knowledge gaps to guide targeted interventions and improve child outcomes. ow.ly/fzOk50XbjrG

**NEW STUDY ALERT**
Parents want to help their children succeed. But what if they don't know what they don't know?

Yet we've lacked a comprehensive, scalable tool to quickly assess what parents and educators know—and where their knowledge gaps lie. We have one now: ideas.repec.org/p/feb/artefa...

The econ PhD market will be difficult this year. The exact same thing happened when I went on the market years ago: I sent out 150 applications...and got 1 interview! Then I wrote a paper about it! ideas.repec.org/p/feb/natura...

Both sides of the market responded. Is this happening now too?