iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

🧵I know next to nothing about poetry, but his poem “The Peace of Wild Things” (reproduced below) resonates with me very deeply. It touches a chord inside and connects me with peace and comfort. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/31/u...

Wendell Berry, Writer Who Extolled America’s Agrarian Past, Dies at 92

A Kentucky farmer, he railed against agribusiness and championed small family farms and the environment, winning widespread acclaim.

100

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Downplay a movie The Good, the Bad, and the Mildly Unattractive A Fistful of Quarters The Slightly Soiled Dozen The Somewhat Impressive Seven

011

Reposted by Martin Gaynor

Michael Clemens @mclem.org · 24/07/2026

It is sickening and illegal and poisonously anti-American to steal OUR tax dollars, mandated by our Congress for the public good, and pervert them into a plaything of authoritarian patronage. Flaying our public institutions is the opposite of Conservative and it harms all Americans.

Trump Administration Admits Canceling Grants to States That Did Not Vote for Him (Gift Article)

Federal officials said in court documents that they halted billions of dollars in funding for energy projects to states “based solely” on whether they backed President Trump in the 2024 election.

05118

Reposted by Martin Gaynor

Jan Kabatek 💙💛 @jankabatek.com · 24/07/2026

📢We're hiring 📢 Short notice, but Melbourne Institute is looking for a Senior Research Fellow (level C) to work on applied industrial microeconomics research using Australian administrative datasets. Apply here: unimelb.wd105.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/UOM_Ex...

unimelb.wd105.myworkdayjobs.com

Senior Research Fellow

Role type: Full Time, Continuing (Research Contingent) Faculty: Faculty of Business and Economics Department/ School: Melbourne Institute of Applied Economics and Social Research Salary: Level C - $15...

1712

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Nice paper by my colleague Seth Richards-Shubik and Ian McCarthy. Terrific combination of important topic, good data, and rigorous, appropriate, methods (including formal identification argument for search model parameters). Well done - we need more of this kind of research!

030

Reposted by Martin Gaynor

Jay Shambaugh @jaycshambaugh.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

This is a terrible abuse of the 301 process. These tariffs should be tossed out, and once again, Congress should take steps to reassert its powers to set taexes. The President illegitimately raised taxes today. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/23/b...

Trump Administration to Impose New Tariffs of Around 10% on Over 80 Nations

The administration announced new duties tied to countries’ imports of goods made with forced labor, replacing a global 10 percent tariff set to expire at midnight.

062

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

🧵Important new paper by Gaston Illanes and colleagues on the performance of merger simulation. Far from perfect at point prediction, but performs better at distinguishing high from low price change mergers than commonly used alternatives. www.nber.org/papers/w35473

nber.org

A Large-Scale Evaluation of Merger Simulations

Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...

121

Reposted by Martin Gaynor

Shelly Lundberg @shellyjlundberg.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

I'm so grateful to the colleagues who have been willing to read my forthcoming book How Economics Discovered Women in advance (#4).

063

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

🧵Happy 250th America! My grandparents came here to escape relentless persecution & grinding poverty in Belarus, Ukraine & Hungary. They found freedom & opportunity & were able to build good lives for themselves, their children & their grandchildren. They loved America - as do I.

2112

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

This strengthens the power of the President and weakens Congress. If you like this because you support Trump, consider the consequences when someone you don’t like is in the White House.

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

This is the end of federal “independent” agencies - they are no longer independent (& may no longer be bipartisan). I don’t have an opinion on the legal aspects of SCOTUS’s decision, but I think it’s bad for the functioning of these agencies & bad for the country. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/06...

Live Updates: Supreme Court Expands Presidential Power Over Regulators, but Not the Fed

Rep. Dan Frankel @repdanfrankel.com · 19/06/2026

Reposted by Martin Gaynor

On this day in 1865, slavery finally came to an end in the United States. Today, 161 years later, we celebrate abolition and rededicate ourselves to making sure that our country’s painful history is never forgotten or erased.

032

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Read the story at the link. The Republican Party in Texas is actively promoting Islamophobia - for shame.

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

We’re all in this together. I’m very proud that the Pittsburgh Jewish Federation helped our Muslim neighbors. “The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh…helped the Attawheed Islamic Center in Carnegie, PA apply for a grant through the state security grant program. religionnews.com/2026/06/11/a...

religionnews.com

Mosques face increasing challenges to provide security amid growing anti-Muslim fervor

(RNS) — Muslim organizations suspect they are not afforded fair access to Nonprofit Security Grant Program administered through the Department of Homeland Security.

271

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Not good. Certainly makes it look like this was a political decision and DOJ just mailed it in.

030

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Two really excellent overviews of the key facts about horizontal (e.g. hospital-hospital) and vertical (e.g. insurer-provider) consolidation in health care by Zack Cooper & the Health Care Affordability Lab, Yale. cdn.prod.website-files.com/682cf1c62562... cdn.prod.website-files.com/682cf1c62562...

cdn.prod.website-files.com

031

Reposted by Martin Gaynor

Emily Gee @emily-gee.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

The Econ team is hiring at the Center for American Progress! We're looking for a Policy Analyst with strong quantitative and writing skills; experience working with economic data; and an interest in compelling, evidence-based public policy arguments. [1/2] www.americanprogress.org/job/policy-a...

americanprogress.org

Policy Analyst, Economic Policy

American Progress is seeking a Policy Analyst to support its Economic Policy team’s efforts to promote an economy that works for all. The Policy Analyst position requires strong quantitative and writi...

12015

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Federal agencies that once honorably served the public are being compromised by the President’s lackey appointees to serve him and his cronies. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

wsj.com

Inside Trump’s Takeover of the American Regulatory Machine

President dives into the weeds, shaping mergers and weighing in on psychedelic drugs, in a sharp departure from the past.

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

An amicus brief on economic issues in FTC v. Meta (fundamental flaws in market definition) and the impacts on appropriate enforcement. Signed on by Florian Ederer Steven Salop Nancy L. Rose Allan Collard-Wexler Larry White, and me.

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Introduce yourself with 10 artists you’ve seen live. Loggins & Messina Led Zeppelin Grateful Dead Crosby, Stills & Nash The Tubes Stephen Stills The Who Simon & Garfunkel Peter Rowan Bruce Springsteen

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

On #MemorialDay we remember and honor the dedicated men and women of our armed services who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We owe them a debt that cannot be repaid.

040

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

I am heartsick over this. Once again, innocent, defenseless people are dead because of baseless hatred. Hate speech leads to hate crimes. Politicians, public figures, social media, have to stop exploiting fear of those who are different and promoting hatred. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/u...

San Diego Mosque Attack Comes Amid Rising Reports of Islamophobia

061

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Important new paper by Robert Metcalfe, Alexandre Sollaci & Chad Syverson. They show that proposed mergers that lead to greater market power will have smaller efficiencies & vice versa. This has important implications for enforcement agencies & courts in assessing mergers. www.nber.org/papers/w35221

nber.org

Proposed Mergers Where Efficiencies Are Needed Most Might Be the Least Likely to Deliver Them

083

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

It was our good fortune at @cmuheinzcollege.bsky.social Carnegie Mellon University to have Distinguished Professor Jonathan Kanter address the graduates at commencement. You can watch his inspiring address here www.youtube.com/live/7CHSd4Z... at about the 57’ mark.

youtube.com

2026 Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy - Hooding, Diploma & Awards Ceremony

YouTube video by Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

“We are directing our anger at the part of the system that is most visible and frustrating (insurers’ restrictions on care) while ignoring the part of the health system that is most responsible for high costs and economic pain: hospital prices.” lnkd.in/eEiMjqtX www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/o...

Opinion | This Is the Biggest Culprit for High Health Care Spending

052

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

Opinion | This Is the Biggest Culprit for High Health Care Spending

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Slightly diminish a book Nineteen Eighty Three

040

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Slightly diminish a book The Pretty Good Gatsby

231

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Slightly diminish a book To Lightly Injure a Mockingbird

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Slightly diminish a book Adequate Expectations

0111

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

New paper with Amanda Starc on competition in health insurance markets out in Journal of Economic Perspectives (open access). pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdfplus/...

pubs.aeaweb.org

153

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

🧵It was a privilege to speak about antisemitism, hate, recovery and resilience, and spreading kindness and love with Andrea Wedner, Sharyn Stein, Jodi Kart, and Ranisa Rubin Davidson at Emmanuel Lutheran Church yesterday.

140

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

States sing a different tune than DOJ - jury hums along..

001

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Very big deal. Jury Finds Live Nation Acts as a Monopoly in a Victory for States www.nytimes.com/2026/04/15/a...

Jury Finds Live Nation Acts as a Monopoly in a Victory for States

011

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

🧵It was an honor to talk to the students at Dorseyville Middle School with Alan and Stanley Mallinger about our experiences of the synagogue attack here in Pittsburgh on 10.27.18, its aftermath, and combatting hate. They are such thoughtful, impressive young people with a wonderful teacher.

150

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Health care affordability is a big problem. Why? Consolidation and market power have a lot to do with it. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/23/u...

When Voters Worry About ‘Affordability,’ Many Point to Health Care

121

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

100%. Thank you. It should be obvious that doing this is bigoted and nasty. Awful and disturbing that some think it’s OK, let alone that there’s even a question about it.

030

Reposted by Martin Gaynor

Joel S. @joelhs.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Joe Kent has given sympathetic interviews to Holocaust deniers. Even in his resignation from the National Counterterrorism Center over the Iran War, he finds a way to blame it on "Israel and its powerful American lobby" (read: Jews). Progressives *really* do not have to hand it to this guy.

1934895

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

These are the words I gave over at a recent Iftar gathering for Ramadan. I'm very grateful to our Muslim neighbors for inviting me and giving me the opportunity to connect and to be together with them at this significant time.

0113

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

031

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Crowdsourcing for information - Are there bills in Congress to combat online hate that are worthy of support? I'm aware of the following - are there others? Thanks! S.3292 Platform Accountability & Transparency Act H.R. 5681 STOP HATE Act of 2025 H.Res. 963 - Condemning antisemitism in all its forms

PennLDI @pennldi.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

Reposted by Martin Gaynor

How do insurer acquisitions of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) affect costs? New research by LDI Fellow Abby Alpert finds Medicare Part D insurers that continued working with rival insurers’ PBMs saw double-digit premium increases. bit.ly/4utFAli

ldi.upenn.edu

Insurer Acquisition of PBMs Raised Some Part D Premiums

LDI Fellow Abby Alpert found little evidence to support that insurers integrating with PBMs resulted in cost savings for Medicare Part D plan enrollees.

102

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

I was honored and moved to be invited to attend a Ramadan Iftar gathering and give over a few words, along with Reverend @liddybarlow.bsky.social. At a time of rising hate and division it was very meaningful and heartwarming to be welcomed and connect with our Muslim neighbors.

2413

Martin Gaynor @martingaynor.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

🧵Hate speech leads to hate crimes. The Republican Party, the Democratic Party, Everyone needs to call out, condemn, and marginalize those who are broadcasting, amplifying, and normalizing hate. This means Tucker Carlson, www.nytimes.com/2026/03/12/u...