By invitation and by necessity
I think I should give the reason for my being in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the argument of “outsiders coming in.” …… Read More »By invitation and by necessity
poverty and inequality
Clare Leaver and Lant Pritchett on Pay for Performance for teachers (and how to think about interventions in general)
Even if you’re not interested in pay for performance, this article is is fantastic in the way that it sets a clear foundation for discussion… Read More »Clare Leaver and Lant Pritchett on Pay for Performance for teachers (and how to think about interventions in general)
Lant Pritchett on reducing learning poverty: targeted interventions vs systemic change
“… when the whole system is producing weak results for nearly every child, then “inclusion” is a false premise. In this situation, it is necessary… Read More »Lant Pritchett on reducing learning poverty: targeted interventions vs systemic change
Raj Chetty on return on investment for social programs
Raj Chetty: This was an impressive study conducted by my colleagues Nathan Hendren and Ben Sprung-Keyser at Harvard… and the main punchline that they arrived… Read More »Raj Chetty on return on investment for social programs
Russ Roberts on inequality and poverty
Our age right now – this might change – is obsessed with inequality. And it disturbs me deeply that inequality is conflated with poverty. They’re… Read More »Russ Roberts on inequality and poverty
Karl Marx on automation and job losses due to disruption
“In these spacious halls the benignant power of steam summons around him his myriads of willing menials.” Andrew Ure Marx’s rage against the machine Another… Read More »Karl Marx on automation and job losses due to disruption
On inequality
Inequality is inevitable (because we’re all different), and it isn’t necessarily wrong (if we value the freedom to make meaningful choices) and doesn’t necessarily have… Read More »On inequality
The Onion (3): exemplar interesting problem – learning to read
Problems gain (or lose) interestingness as their context and scale changes. Take teaching a kids to read as an example. It’s almost inevitable that a… Read More »The Onion (3): exemplar interesting problem – learning to read
Econtalk: Mauricio Miller on Poverty, Social Work, and the Alternative
This is a really interesting episode of Econtalk, and worth a listen. Highlight 1: Accurate description of poor communities A couple of things here really… Read More »Econtalk: Mauricio Miller on Poverty, Social Work, and the Alternative
Kicking cans: job descriptions versus culture
A few days ago I watched a schoolboy kicking a can down the road. He kicked it a couple of times and then miskicked, sending… Read More »Kicking cans: job descriptions versus culture