The new bridge between the US and Canada appears to have a bike lane that will open this week. It goes from Michigan to a place in Canada called "Sandwich Town," which is a weirdly appropriate place name for the end of a scenic bike lane.

Some years ago, I was attending an economic research conference and noticed one of the presenters was attending remotely, with a baby on her shoulder at times. A quick online search showed she was the mother of nine children. Forget about the "influencers;" I want to read a profile of that woman.

Last week, the Library put the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence on display. The declaration really did improve with editing. Something for me to keep in mind when I am grumpy about the changes my reviewers want me to make. www.loc.gov/exhibitions/...

“original Rough draught” | Revolutionary Mind | Explore | The Declaration’s Promise: A Revolutionary Idea | Exhibitions at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress

Words can change the world. On July 4, 1776, the members of the Second Continental Congress ratified the Declaration of Independence. The document laid out their case for separation from Great Britain...

loc.gov

We don't have children to keep them in the womb forever. But some days letting a fledgeling fly are harder than others.

As far as I know, Alan Greenspan was the only person to chair the Council of Economic Advisers to the President (Sept 1974 - Jan 1977) before earning a PhD (later in 1977).

Fellow Maryland residents--what is going on with the rabbits this year? It feels like I can't walk down my block without spotting one or two or five. I've heard suggestions that the foxes got sick this year, so more rabbit kits survived. Any actual evidence for this?

Action Committee for Transit 👣🚲🚇🚍🚊@actfortransit.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Good Bunday morning to rabbits who have become ungovernable.

I wrote a CRS two page overview of what we can and cannot learn about labor markets from employer reports (thinking about the impacts of AI on labor markets). It's at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

When this paper was presented, someone in the room said, "just don't think you can measure the impact of AI by asking the employers," and all the measurement experts laughed. I wrote a two page explanation of why not for people who aren't measurement experts. It's at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

Peterson Institute for International Economics@piie.com · 5mo ago

NEW: Jed Kolko finds the evidence on how AI is affecting the labor market today is inconclusive, & claims about harmful impacts on particular groups of workers are premature.

A nice perk of my current job is an employee chorale to sing with at lunchtime. We have a concert coming up on June 10th at noon in the Coolidge auditorium of the Jefferson building. Free admission, open to the public, etc.

Just published (with one of my lawyer colleagues): a two-page overview of the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) of 1965: What and who it covers, what it requires, how it's enforced, and recent proposals in Congress to change it. www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

The single most accurate science fiction author writing about AI turned out to be… Douglas Adams He wrote about AIs that work best when emotionally manipulated & that guilt you in turn. And he understood there was no upper bound on test time compute for hard problem. Also dolphin communication!

Just got a notification that my January complaint about a crosswalk blocked by winter snow has now been resolved. Seriously, @marylanddot.bsky.social?

I love the walk between Metro and the office.

In my current role, I cannot present unpublished research. However, I am able to serve as a discussant. If you're putting together a session and you need a discussant in one of my areas of expertise, please reach out to me.

AEA Information@aeainformation.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Now is the time to submit your paper and session proposals for the 2027 AEA program. The deadline for individual paper proposals is April 1, and the deadline for complete session proposals is April 15. For more information, visit: aeaweb.org/conference/s.... #econsky

New H1-B and PERM wage regulation just dropped. As expected, it would raise wage requirements: www.federalregister.gov/public-inspe... Changes the administration is making to the H-1B and PERM programs (raising wage requirements) and the H-2A program (lowering wage requirements) are so different.

Public Inspection: Improving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals in the United States

Improving Wage Protections for the Temporary and Permanent Employment of Certain Foreign Nationals in the United States

federalregister.gov

I attempted to summarize causal estimates of the impact of immigration enforcement on labor markets in two pages, at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

The Library is looking for its next Innovator in Residence! Through April 10, the Library invites technologists, artists and other creative visionaries to propose imaginative proof of concepts designed to help the public connect with digital Library materials. newsroom.loc.gov/news/library...

I've been reading a great deal about current and potential impacts of AI on labor markets. Just published: a 2-page overview of frameworks for thinking about this: www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

I was selected as a respondent to fill out O*Net questionnaires. I had opinions about O*Net before. Now I have more informed opinions...

Tayari Jones wrote a novel that is getting a lot of attention. I haven't read it. But I think more people should know about her mom, economics professor Barbara Ann Posey Jones: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara...

I would like to know what it would take for more legacy media companies to be owned by local non-profit organizations (following the example of The Philadelphia Inquirer). Who should I follow to learn more about this? (This is my own interest, NOT a topic I am researching on behalf of my employer)

I've written a report on all the changes to wage regulations for H-2A temporary agricultural worker visas since the H-2A program began in the 1980s. The report is at www.congress.gov/crs-product/....

Five years ago, I had a very sick child and referrals to several pediatric medical specialists and tests in a building a few blocks from the US Capitol. The kid got a diagnosis. Treatment worked. But for me, January 6, 2020 means memories of rescheduling medical appointments for a very sick child.

Rule text just appeared at www.federalregister.gov/public-inspe.... It says,"DHS is issuing this final rule as proposed in the NPRM, without modifications to the regulatory text."

Public Inspection: Weighted Selection Process for Registrants and Petitioners Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions

Weighted Selection Process for Registrants and Petitioners Seeking to File Cap-Subject H-1B Petitions

federalregister.gov

Elizabeth Weber Handwerker@elizwebhand.bsky.social · 9mo ago

My colleague Jill Wilson and I have published a short summary of recent developments regarding H-1B visas at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...

This is why BLS has been requesting funding to test an online version of the CPS, which is currently conducted by phone. (AKA "modernizing the CPS")

John Holbein@johnholbein1.bsky.social · 8mo ago

People who take phone surveys report that their wellbeing is significantly higher than those who are surveyed online. What do you think drives this result?

For months, I've been walking by a tent of protestors for various causes on my way to work. This morning, they're gone. Sounds like their permit was revoked for "beautification work."

Those who know me IRL know I often wear hats. Today I learned there is a member of Congress with many more--and many fancier--hats than me. Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12) has given interviews about her hats! spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triangle-...

Hats on: Visiting U.S. Rep. Alma Adams and her fashion

Adams is famous for her hat fashion.

spectrumlocalnews.com

Sitting down this evening to plan our CFC contributions (charitable contributions via payroll deduction for federal employees) for this coming year. I was pleasantly surprised to find that all the organizations on my list in 2025 are still eligible for CFC contributions in 2026.

My colleague Jill Wilson and I have published a short summary of recent developments regarding H-1B visas at www.congress.gov/crs-product/...