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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2026

Last but not least: @kristoberg.bsky.social builds social welfare functions holding workers responsible for *merit* (own education) not *circumstances* (parental education), calibrates on an optimal tax model on Norwegian registers. Result: lower optimal marginal rates than utilitarian.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2026

Why do meritocratic societies tolerate big inheritance-based inequalities? Simona Sartor runs two US experiments: people partly accept inherited merit as merit — "aristocratic meritocracy." Optimal inheritance tax falls below the pure-meritocrat benchmark.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2026

When good ends require dodgy means, what do people do? Our second keynote Roland Benabou (Princeton Economics) runs a real-stakes trolley plus 5 other ends-vs-means games. 20–44% pick non-consequentialist — but trolley choices predict *nothing* about the rest. Kantian/utilitarian isn't a trait.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2026

Next up: Ingvild Almas (UZH Department of Economics) on perceived *unfair* inequality in labor markets — with a particular focus on the influence of inequality perceptions and fairness preferences.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2026

What story do people *spontaneously* tell about inequality? Magdalena Wasilewska (UvA) asks Dutch respondents in their own words: 62% structural (labour market, taxes, family), 25% merit, 16% luck.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2026

Across 27 EU countries, @paolobrunori.bsky.social (@lseinequalities.bsky.social) asks: do people correctly identify *why* their society is unequal? Mostly no. Education gets recognised; family wealth and gender mostly only by people they hit. The employed and upwardly mobile credit hard work.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2026

How you measure inequality changes how people feel about it. @joelvdweele.bsky.social (UvA): the Gini *desensitises* people; the top-10% share boosts support for redistribution. Economists' default isn't politically neutral.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2026

Is it OK to put yourself first? @ranveigfalch.bsky.social asks ~28k people in the US and Scandinavia. 95% say yes — but only 8% accept caring *only* about yourself. Markets/voting fine, family/work not. Americans more permissive than Scandinavians.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2026

A Next: @pgpiacquadio.bsky.social on equity–efficiency tradeoffs once you take other-regarding preferences seriously. Classic question, fresh angle.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2026

Why do some countries hold the line on inequality? @mortenstostad.bsky.social runs a 40-country, 90k-person experiment splitting redistribution into altruistic vs "self-preserving" (inequality is bad *for you*). Self-preserving predicts welfare states — biggest in the Nordics.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2026

Opening keynote (on zoom): Ernst Fehr (UZH) showing that social preferences from standard designs suffer from an omitted variable bias. You need to account for both behindness- and aheadness- aversion to get it right.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2026

Opening keynote (on zoom): Ernst Fehr (@econ.uzh.ch) showing that social preferences from standard designs suffer from an omitted variable bias. You need to account for both behindness- and aheadness- aversion to get it right.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2026

Last day of BÆM 2026. We conclude with a workshop on "Fairness in the Economy." We again have a jam-packed program of great presentations: www.baem.info/Program_FIE_... Stay tuned for live coverage!

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 04/05/2026

💥 We’re absolutely thrilled that the Bristol Applied Economics Meetings (BÆM) kick off tomorrow at the University of Bristol! 💥 We have an amazing program bringing together leading research on development, migration, and fairness in the economy.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 31/10/2025

📢 CfP Alert! We’re excited to announce the 3rd Bristol Applied Economics Meetings (BÆM). 🗓️ 5–8 May 2026 | 📍 University of Bristol Three focused workshops in applied economics: Development, Migration & Fairness. 🔗 www.baem.info

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 09/05/2025

Last but not least @sansoneecon.bsky.social studying the sources of taste discrimination using list experiments. In Chile, many say they're comfortable with gay colleagues—but list experiments reveal far more discomfort suggesting social pressure masks discrimination.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 09/05/2025

@giuliaferrero.bsky.social shows the sex preferences of parents in a war setting. Her results suggest that families exposed to ethnic conflict had more children if they only had daughters. The war amplified sex-selective fertility and abortions, revealing how violence shapes family choices.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 09/05/2025

Oleksandra Cheipesh (@uc3meconomics.bsky.social) shows that media role models matter, even in childhood. In early-2000s Ukraine, girls with more exposure to female-led animated series later pursued more education and STEM—and both boys and girls held fewer gender stereotypes.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 09/05/2025

Do classmates with disabilities affect learning outcomes? @sofiasierrav.bsky.social studies this question in Chile. Students in inclusive classrooms show slightly lower test scores but the impact varies by disability type and is eased when teachers stay with the same class over time.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 09/05/2025

We kick off the last day of BÆM 2025 with @caterinapavese.bsky.social. She uses data from the Netherlands to show that early integration boosts cultural assimilation but can hurt education—especially for disadvantaged children.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2025

The day concludes with Bin Huang (@econ.uzh.ch). He shows that in Mao-era China, forced integration reduced trust and growth. But decades later, the same villages built stronger, more productive ties. Institutions turned diversity from a burden to an asset.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2025

@farahzadishadi.bsky.social shows that after 9/11, intermarriage rates for American Muslims dropped sharply—driven more by changing preferences among non-Muslim Americans than Muslims themselves.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2025

We continue with Ellen Greaves (@uofebusiness.bsky.social). She shows that better schools don't always boost nearby home prices. Her work shows the "school premium" only appears when the alternative is a clearly worse school.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2025

@erikapoveag.bsky.social studies the impact of violent crime on education. As organized crime surges in Ecuador, school dropout rates rise. Children aged 11–14 are most affected, not due to fewer resources, but to fear and instability.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2025

Alessandro Toppeta (@sofi.su.se) shows that more school isn't always better: in Sweden, teens randomly tested after holidays show stronger non-cognitive skills, especially those from wealthier families. More breaks may boost development, but they risk widening inequality.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2025

Our keynote speaker Michèle Tertilt (@econunimannheim.bsky.social) provides a fascinating overview of the economics of women’s rights. Her findings illustrate the importance of economic forces for rights expansions, but also how the impact of these forces varies with culture.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2025

@valderfranziska.bsky.social asks what drives gender differences in health. Her evidence from Denmark points to an important role of providers: women are less likely to be prescribed lifesaving drugs, but can improve their outcomes when they change doctors.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2025

@saraspaziani.bsky.social shows that gender quotas in Italian governments boosted female representation, and over time, strongly increased access to anti-violence services. Political representation can help to reduce gender-based violence.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2025

We continue with @leitemariante.bsky.social. Do unconditional cash transfers discourage work? Not for women in Brazil. A boost in benefits led more mothers to join the labor force, especially when it helps easing childcare burdens. Paper: drive.google.com/file/d/1ksDE...

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2025

Why do sons more often take over the family firm than daughters? Using rich Finnish data, @cipriandomnisoru.bsky.social shows the gender gap starts early—with son-biased fertility, unequal grooming. Norms vary strongly by industry. Paper: docs.iza.org/dp17800.pdf

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2025

First up is Anna Hochleitner (@nhhecon.bsky.social). Using academic reference letters and two experiments, Anna shows that recommendation letters for women emphasize effort over ability, shaping hiring decisions. Recruiters often don’t realize the bias, undermining diversity efforts.

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 08/05/2025

Day 3 of the 2025 Bristol Applied Economics Meetings (BÆM)! After two fantastic days on development economics, we continue with the meeting on “Gender, Diversity, and Human Capital”. Stay tuned for some excellent papers!

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 27/01/2025

One month to go! Join us for the Bristol Applied Economics Meeting (BÆM) on Gender, Diversity and Human Capital, 8-9 May! 📢 Keynote by Michele Tertilt (U Mannheim) 📅 Submission deadline: Feb 28. 👉Details at baem.info

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 19/11/2024

📢Call for papers: Bristol Applied Economics Meeting (BÆM) on Gender, Diversity, and Human Capital (May 8-9) Keynote: Michèle Tertilt (Mannheim) Call with all details: baem.info/CfP_GDHC_25.... 3/4

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 19/11/2024

📢Call for papers: Bristol Applied Economics Meeting (BÆM) on Development Economics (May 6-7) Keynote: Sara Lowes @sararlowes (USCD) Invited speakers: Devesh Rustagi (Warwick) and Dean Yang @deanyang (Michigan) Call with all details: baem.info/CfP_DEV_25.pdf 2/4

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 19/11/2024

BÆM is back! Come and join us in beautiful Bristol for the 2nd edition of the Bristol Applied Economics Meetings: Development Economics: May 6-7 Gender, Diversity, and Human Capital: May 8-9 Submit your paper by Feb 28. Travel support is available. baem.info. 1/4

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Paul Hufe @paulhufe.net · 17/11/2024

Join us for the 18th Winter School on Inequality and Social Welfare Theory in the Dolomites! This year with a special focus on social science genetics and its implications for the analysis of inequalities in skill formation. Rest assured: Ain't a better way to start your academic journey in 2025!

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