Peter Bergman

Different Paths to College Success: The Impact of Massachusetts’ Charter Schools on College Trajectories (Forthcoming Article) - The charter school movement encompasses many school models. In Massachusetts in the 2010’s, the site of our study, urban charter schools primarily used “No Excuses” practices, ...

Forthcoming in AER: Insights: "Different Paths to College Success: The Impact of Massachusetts’ Charter Schools on College Trajectories" by Sarah R. Cohodes and Astrid Pineda. www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...

We are in a 30 Rock simulation

Trump canceled the research grant for America’s — perhaps the world’s? — top mathematician (via @weakinstrument.bsky.social)

Trump, Claiming Weak Jobs Numbers Were ‘Rigged,’ Fires Labor Official

For months, people have been asking me whether I still trusted gov’t data. My answer was always the same: The stats agencies faced longstanding challenges, some of which Trump was making worse. But there was no sign of political meddling.
I can’t say that anymore.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/b...

America's billionaires promised to give away their money 15 years ago. How's that going? - The San Francisco Standard Only one local bigwig is even close to giving away half their wealth.

sfstandard.com/2025/07/30/g...

News: legendary Washington Post sports columnist @sallyjenx.bsky.social is leaving The Post.

🎓 Recently gave a lecture at the Econometric Society @econometric.bsky.social Summer School on Dynamic Structural Econometrics.

Topic: how subjective expectations data help us model educational choices.

Link to slides: dropbox.com/scl/fi/qui40...

🧵

New NBER WP on algorithmic "coercion."

Unlike collusion, coercion can be achieved by a single firm's pricing algorithm.

It can be worse for consumers than collusion.

@nber.org

😂

Israel Intercepts Gaza-Bound Ship of Activists and Aid

The Israeli navy intercepted a ship aiming to bring aid to Gaza this weekend, Israeli officials and pro-Palestinian activists said. It was at least the third vessel blocked this year while challenging Israel’s naval blockade and seeking to deliver supplies by sea to people facing rising starvation.

Backfire? “to have the opposite result from the one you intended.”

This is so important and long overdue.

I just donated to Sameer Project and World Central Kitchen. Please join me. Links in the below post.

Rush a Gift: Deliver Emergency Meals to Families Now Funding shortfalls are forcing us to scale back or completely stop operations in the world’s worst emergency zones. People who have nowhere else to turn depend on us for food, and we simply cannot let...

I am very proud that my wife is working on making a difference in Gaza. Please consider supporting the WFP if you can. donate.wfpusa.org/page/Emergen...

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Is Outsourcing More of His Office’s Work to Costly Private Lawyers Despite having an office of hundreds of attorneys, Ken Paxton is frequently opting for private lawyers — many to whom he has personal or political ties — to argue on behalf of Texas. One attorney cost...

Texas AG Ken Paxton hired a former staffer to work on a recent case. As a state employee, her labor would have cost taxpayers $641.

As a private attorney, Paxton allowed her to bill $3,780 an hour, so that day of work cost taxpayers $24,570.

With @texastribune.org

ICYMI: you can watch the recording here (around the 5h19m mark)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpxf...

Love the tool building. Looking forward to trying it! 👏👏👏

Best wishes @crampell.bsky.social ❤️

Opinion | 11 tips for becoming a columnist Here’s my advice for handling the awesome responsibility of this job.

Some professional news: After more than a decade of columnizing at The Washington Post, I'm taking the buyout.
This is my last column. It is my advice to any other lucky pundits who land a perch like this -- with 11 principles I've aspired to, even if I haven't always achieved them:
wapo.st/3TU2fGw

I'm on Cambridge's 87 bus right now, heading to the Royal Sonesta to hear some great Economics of Education talks as part of the #NBER Summer Institute.

I'll try to live post as many as possible, so watch this thread!

@nber.org #EconSky

Just out here doin' my own research

Missed it live?

Yesterday, OI Co-Director Nathan Hendren presented new research on credit access in the U.S. at the NBER Summer Institute. You can now watch the full presentation and explore the findings.

📺Watch: shorturl.at/CIwZr

📚Explore: shorturl.at/gigae

👏👏👏

Your Credit Score Is Shaped by the Neighborhood Where You Grew Up What helps poor kids grow up to make better decisions about money? A new study of 25 million people finds an unexpected answer.

New Opportunity Insights study shows how the community you grew up in shapes your behavior around using credit, and your credit score, as an adult. www.wsj.com/economy/cred...

It’s official. I AM GOING ON A BOOK TOUR. THIS FALL. Seven States. Four Weeks. WE COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU. 😭 #TheDoubleTax

Sign up for tour updates here: tinyurl.com/doubletax-up... #booksky #blacksky #bluesky #econsky

SCOTUS when Biden administration seeks to reduce student loan debt: Major question where they have to jump in and block before any action takes place.
SCOTUS when Trump eliminates the entire Department of Education: Lets see how this plays out, no need to intervene right now.

👏👏👏

Back from Yet Another Globetrotting Adventure, Indiana Jones Checks His Mail and Discovers That His Bid for Tenure Has Been Denied January 22, 1939 Assistant Professor Henry “Indiana” Jones Jr. Department of Anthropology Chapman Hall 227B Marshall College Dr. Jones: As chairman...

It's Harrison Ford's birthday today, thus we are contractually obligated to point you to this ridiculous classic from our archives.

Exclusive: Hundreds at Alligator Alcatraz have no criminal charges, Miami Herald learns Descriptions of the Everglades detention center as a place for violent criminals tell only part of the story.

People who entered the US legally and have no criminal charges are being held in the Everglades camp, according to records obtained by the Miami Herald. Maybe that’s why the government won’t release the names of those being detained. www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...