Jeffrey Lin

Thanks to everyone who came to the @urbaneconomics.bsky.social North American Meetings in Montreal and to all those who worked behind the scenes to make it happen. Our next meeting will be in Barcelona, 8-9 May 2026. Call for papers coming soon.

YouTube video by Streetfilms® William “Holly” Whyte in His Own Words, “The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces” (1980)

Very exciting! The seminal 1980 documentary "The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces" by William H. "Holly" Whyte has been RESTORED and screening in NYC this week!

I wanted to honor his work and used his words in the companion book and produced this 11 years ago.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sU2v...

Excited to see the new Handbook of Regional and Urban Economics (Volume 6), edited jointly with Dave Donaldson come out: www.sciencedirect.com/handbook/han.... Fantastic set of chapters on recent advances and pointing the way to exciting further research @treballen.bsky.social @siepr.bsky.social

Check out our conversation on Densely Speaking with Zach about this research from earlier this year. @gregshill.com

open.spotify.com/episode/6HcN...

Neat paper!

Check out our conversation on Densely Speaking with Zach about this research from earlier this year. @gregshill.com

open.spotify.com/episode/6HcN...

🚨NEW RESULTS (w/ Slattery & Nober)
- When gov't engineers retire, highway projects cost more: the engineers pay for themselves 6 times over
- Improving gov’t engineer quality from the 25th to 75th percentile reduces costs by 14%, equal to 3x avg. engineer pay

Paper: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

Some interesting ideas in this paper!

SEPTA cuts hurt Philly schools’ attendance Early district data show 63% of city schools showed an increase in late arrivals, and 54% had more students absent.

"SEPTA cuts made Philly schools’ attendance tumble significantly

Early district data show 63% of city schools showed an increase in late arrivals, and 54% had more students absent." -- www.inquirer.com/education/ph...

I wrote an unusually strongly worded thing about the transit crisis in Pennsylvania, which is coming soon to Oregon and Illinois. humantransit.org/2025/08/the-...

What's happening in Philly is heartbreaking and infuriating.

Did Racial Capitalism Set the Bronx on Fire? To some, the fires lit in New York in the late seventies signalled rampant criminality; to others, rebellion. But maybe they were signs of something else entirely.

Daniel Immerwahr in the @newyorker.com on 1970s arsons and Bench Ansfield‘s new book (and brief mention of my paper with Ellen, Hartley and You).

www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

Did Racial Capitalism Set the Bronx on Fire? To some, the fires lit in New York in the late seventies signalled rampant criminality; to others, rebellion. But maybe they were signs of something else entirely.

Daniel Immerwahr in the @newyorker.com on 1970s arsons and Bench Ansfield‘s new book (and brief mention of my paper with Ellen, Hartley and You).

www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

Hey Charlie. Glad you had this experience and hoping you find your footing again soon. Rooting for you!

A key challenge for BLS is adequate funding for data collection and modernization. During my tenure I tried to identify the causes. One person told me, ‘your problem is that while BLS has no enemies you also have no friends’ meaning no powerful interest groups advocating for economic data.

The latest JEP has an extraordinary set of papers on the economics of housing.

My favorite? The one showing that most people incorrectly believe that increasing housing supply won't lower housing costs.

Subsidizing home-buying is popular even though it raises costs. 🤦

www.aeaweb.org/issues/814

Interesting new essay on rising housing costs in the Journal of Economic Perspectives:

The Only Time Prince & Miles Davis Jammed Together Onstage: Watch the New Year’s Eve, 1987 Concert A too-precious genre of internet meme depicts departed public figures who did not know each other in life meeting in heaven with hugs, high-fives, and wincingly earnest exchanges.

The Only Time Prince & Miles Davis Jammed Together Onstage: Watch the New Year’s Eve, 1987 Concert. [openculture.com]

isi-web.org/statement/st...
#bls #statistics

Opinion | The America We Knew Is Rapidly Slipping Away

Please read this piece.

“Though I am a congenital optimist, for the first time I believe that if the behavior that this administration has exhibited in just its first six months continues and is amplified for its full four years, the America you know will be gone.”

The opposite of Conservatism.

AEA Statement on Dismissal of BLS Comm.

"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."

The National Association for Business Economics (NABE) strongly condemns the baseless removal of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer and the unfounded accusations leveled against the work of the agency. This unprecedented attack on the U.S. statistical system threatens the long-standing credibility of our economic data infrastructure.

NABE strongly condemns the baseless
removal of BLS Commissioner McEntarfer & the unfounded accusations leveled against the work of the agency. This unprecedented attack on the US statistical system threatens the long-standing credibility of our data

files.constantcontact.com/668faa28001/...

With government statistics, it's pretty simple. If you liked the February, March, and April numbers, then you have to accept all the next ones, too. They are produced in the exact same way, it's what the computer spits out, based on the inputs provided. You do not get to cherry pick your stats.

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...

The Friends of #BLS protest the firing of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer.

The rationale for firing her is without merit and undermines the credibility of federal economic statistics that are a cornerstone of intelligent economic decision-making by businesses, families, and policymakers.

“The National Association for Business Economics (NABE) strongly condemns the removal of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer and the unfounded accusations leveled against the work of the agency…

A totally apolitical group.

files.constantcontact.com/668faa28001/...

Erika McEntarfer is brilliant and among the best examples of a deeply committed and consistently objective public servant. She’s earned the respect and trust of everyone who’s had the honor to work with her, including me. #EconSky

Every time I teach American economic history I stress that accurate macroeconomic data is critical for our knowledge of the economy. I also tell them that we have a very high standard of data quality in our modern federal statistics. I may no longer be in a position to say this. Absolutely terrible!

The totally groundless firing of Dr. Erika McEntarfer, my successor as Commissioner of Labor Statistics at BLS, sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the statistical mission of the Bureau. For a full statement opposing this move, read:

Trump’s first BLS Commissioner, Bill Beach, calls today’s firing groundless and dangerous.
www.friendsofbls.org/updates/2025...

Everyone who helps the creation of meaningful accurate data for the good of the public: I admire your service and appreciate you
❤️🧡🤍🩷❤️