Why Dean Karlan, Chief Economist of USAID, resigned on Tuesday: npr.org/sections/goats…

I've known Dean Karlan (now the former chief economist at USAID) for probably a decade. He's brilliant, and worked at USAID precisely because he shares the putative aim of DOGE: figuring out what is cost-effective. Simply unserious for them not to talk to Dean.

Powerful interview. Thank you Dean Karlan for speaking out on the senseless attacks on USAID. "We're watching psychological warfare against a workforce that has been committed to furthering the lives of other people."

They just lost one of the best development economists in the world. Nobody was better placed to help them make their programs more cost-effective.

Centre for the Study of African Economies at University of Oxford will automatically consider all applicants from Africa for full funding for the MPhil in Economics - we have new scholarships for eligible students. Apply asap: deadline 4th March (extended deadline): see below

Worth tracking these data closely.

NEW: Nick Enrich, acting asst admin for USAID Global Health, was just placed on administrative admin leave by Trump admin. It comes after he shared a memo with USAID staff, including those on leave/fired saying it’s been impossible to implement Rubio’s waivers for lifesaving aid

I was able to find an expert to explain how tariffs work

Ronald Reagan in 1987: “America is not only the strongest nation in the world—it is also the kindest. Our strength lies in our willingness to help those who are less fortunate.” My Op-ed on foreign aid cuts in the Independent:

Itai Sher A colleague, when asked about what non-obvious consequences will come from the sudden aid cuts/welching on commitments, said it's going to be much more expensive for the US to do any project abroad when we're not seen as a trustworthy partner.

Anybody know of a solid lit review on soft power? Chris Blattman ?

Amazing work by the team at Lead Exposure Elimination Project x.com/Parthion/statu…

Bill Gates on the real costs of brutal U.S. cuts to foreign aid.

A financial columnist with terminal cancer wished to help disadvantaged youth and contribute to knowledge. It's turning into an RCT offering $1,000 Roth IRAs to young men and women.

Joey Politano 🏳️‍🌈 Nothing bad happened after Smoot-Hawley right

Research scandals make headlines, but that AI materials science paper is still just the tip of the iceberg Ryan Briggs walks through the gauntlet of issues in the research published in even our most reputable peer-reviewed journals

"A study finds stacking bricks differently could help this county fight air pollution" NPR Goats & Soda Coverage of icddr,b / Stanford University study with Nina Brooks, Moogdho Mahzab Open Philanthropy Stanford Impact Labs J-PAL, Stanford Woods Institute & many others npr.org/sections/goats…

🤯 Amazing!