Doug Webber
@dougwebberecon.bsky.social
Section Chief, @federalreserve. Opinions are my own. I have many dogs.
Higher education is often viewed as a valuable investment, but returns vary across students and pathways. In a new chapter, Douglas A. Webber and Celeste K. Carruthers examine the evidence on the returns to four-year higher education. Learn more: livehandbook.org/higher-educa...
New #FEDSPaper: Local Labor Market Tightness and Job Quality: Evidence from Job Changers: www.federalreserve.gov/econres/feds... #EconSky
Local Labor Market Tightness and Job Quality: Evidence from Job Changers
The Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington DC.
federalreserve.gov
I (joint with three wonderful coauthors: Katie Lim, @bradhershbein.bsky.social , and Mike Zabek) have a new working paper on local labor market tightness and job quality. www.federalreserve.gov/econres/feds...
Local Labor Market Tightness and Job Quality: Evidence from Job Changers
The Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington DC.
federalreserve.gov
The most ambitious crossover event in history: SHED data in FRED! news.research.stlouisfed.org/2026/06/fred...
FRED Adds Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED) Data | St. Louis Fed Economic Research
FRED has added 85 data series from the Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED) reported by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The survey measures the economic well-b...
news.research.stlouisfed.org
Somebody got their summer haircut today and doesn't understand why the house suddenly feels cold.
Happy SHED Day!
Federal Reserve@federalreserve.gov · 3mo agoThe annual Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking (SHED) offers insight into the financial well-being of U.S. adults and their families & provides important information about how people are faring in the economy: (1/4) www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/p... youtu.be/Eh4eFnUt1mk
Use the SHED and want an easier way to see all the survey questions over time? Now you can! I've built a new question tracker to show the questions asked in each year of the survey at shed.jefflarrimore.com (1/2)
In case anyone is interested in the US Census Bureau data on AI adoption that was published today, my newsletter has a summary post. Link: macromostly.substack.com/p/an-update-...
"It’s a bright spot on the moon,” CSA astronaut Jeremy Hansen said, his voice breaking up, “and we would like to call it Carroll.” The crew all shared a hug after. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/06/s...
Astronauts Dedicate Moon Crater to Carroll Wiseman, Wife of NASA Commander
nytimes.com
Fascinating paper just out in @jlaborecon.bsky.social by Ben Ost, Weixiang Pan, and @dougwebberecon.bsky.social. Part of the economic value of college comes not from human capital or signaling but from a third thing: professional networks. www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10....
"there is no evidence of a reduction in job postings for industries or firms which have higher levels of AI adoption. The overall slowdown in national job postings...does not appear to be driven (even modestly) by AI." AI Adoption & Firms' Job-Posting Behavior by Liu and @dougwebberecon.bsky.social
AI Adoption and Firms' Job-Posting Behavior
The Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington DC.
federalreserve.gov
New #FEDSNote: AI adoption, whether at the firm or industry level, has had no discernable negative impact on job posting behavior: www.federalreserve.gov/econres/note... #EconSky
AI Adoption and Firms' Job-Posting Behavior
The Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington DC.
federalreserve.gov
Up a little early wrapping homemade apple cider caramels to bring into my office. Clearly I love the people I work with!
I was listening to this part of the podcast on a crowded train this morning, and I couldn't hold it together. Openly laughing and probably looking like a crazy person.
Zito@zeets.bsky.social · 8mo agoWill Arnett was on Conan and told a story about how Conan dealt with the death of his parents by accusing Jason Bateman of killing them. It’s so funny.
@dubravkaritter.bsky.social, @dougwebberecon.bsky.social, and I have a new Education Next article out that offers a less technical look at our research on predicting college closures using machine learning techniques.
Colleges Are Closing. Who Might Be Next?
How machine learning can fill data gaps and help forecast the future
educationnext.org
I truly enjoy a mischevious dog who likes to cause minor trouble.
"The combination of luck, the courage to make mistakes, and a little initiative can lead to much success. But know this: the world needs more from you than personal achievements and individual success. I strongly urge you to find time in your careers for public service." -Chair Powell
Baccalaureate remarks by Chair Powell at the Princeton University Baccalaureate Ceremony
Thank you, President Eisgruber, for the opportunity to speak here today. Congratulations to the Princeton University class of 2025 on the tremendous achievemen
federalreserve.gov
New study: The relative wage premium for going to college has halved for low-income Americans since 1960. What is to blame? Rising selectivity? Tuition hikes? State disinvestment? We decompose changes in the premium since 1900 to find out. 🧵#EconTwitter nber.org/papers/w33797
Actual conversation: Catherine: "Doug!" Me: "Yes? C: "Do you want to see something really cool!?" Me: "Is it another STATA graph?" C: "Yes!"
I am constantly amazed at what assistive technology can do compared to when I was a kid.
George Pearkes@peark.es · last yr.Insanely cool post talking about Touch2See technology and how it let a visually impaired fan track the match perfectly in real time at San Diego FC. www.reddit.com/r/MLS/s/cKei...
As I am now handling papers at AEJ:Policy again, I want to encourage authors of papers that identify partial equilibrium effects to consider (in a rigorous manner) how they relate to policy effects or general equilibrium effects.
Using new IPEDS finance data, I took a look at the public and private colleges that consistently lose money. Forty-nine of the nearly 1,500 four-year institutions with available data lost money in eight or more of the last ten years--not a good sign. robertkelchen.com/2025/01/07/w...
Which Colleges Always Lose Money?
It is safe to say that there is a lot of concern right now about the financial viability of higher education. And while I think fewer colleges are going to close than pundits predict (and check out…
robertkelchen.com
I really wish Apple would pivot this toward the low-vision community. With some costless changes (granting developer access to the cameras/allow zoom) it would instantly be the best high-tech assistive device on the market.
Andy Robinson@andyrobinson.bsky.social · 2y agoApple has reportedly stopped production on its $3,500 Vision Pro due to lack of demand. vgc.news/news/apple-h...
Here is the reading list that I will be using when I get to teach a PhD class in higher education finance this spring. Happy reading! robertkelchen.com/2025/01/02/m...
My 2025 Higher Ed Finance Reading List
I hope that everyone had a restful break and is excited to come back for what will undoubtedly be an eventful year in the world of higher education. This spring is going to be quite busy for me wit…
robertkelchen.com
I'll leave it to others to review Jimmy Carter's political legacy - but I'm going to reshare this extraordinary story of how - as young Navy engineer - he had himself lowered into a nuclear reactor undergoing meltdown to fix the jammed control rods.🧪 www.physicsresourcebank.com/post/jimmy-c...
