Said and Done

FEBRUARY 2021
MIT SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES, ARTS, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
 



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QUOTABLE

"I think we owe the survival of our democracy to civil society action."

— Institute Professor Daron Acemoglu


RESEARCH | CLIMATE
 


 

ECONOMICS
On Environmental Economics | Clare Balboni
"There is tremendous interest in environmental questions within economics." For example: "Economic models can enhance our understanding of how to balance the imperative for continued growth in prosperity and well-being — particularly for the world’s poorest — with the need to mitigate and adapt to the environmental externalities that this growth creates."
Commentary  | Series: Solving Climate - Humanistic Perspectives from MIT

MIT Climate Portal
MIT SHASS on the Climate Portal
 


STRENGTHENING AMERICAN DEMOCRACY 
 


Institute Prfessor Daron Acemoglu, economist: photo by Adam Glanzman


ECONOMICS
On the dangers facing U.S. democracy | Institute Professor Daron Acemoglu 
"I am very opposed to the narrative that the events of January 6 prove U.S. institutions work," he says. "Everybody should be concerned that this is not an isolated event, and the next one could be much more damaging."
Interview by Peter Dizikes, MIT News

UNDARK | KNIGHT SCIENCE JOURNALISM AT MIT
Does deplatforming actually quell hate speech online?
Three technology and communications experts share their views about the online consequences of the violent Capitol attack.
Commentaries | About Undark

HISTORY + POLITICAL SCIENCE
What must the US do to sustain its democracy?
Political scientists Melissa Nobles, Charles Stewart, Ariel White, Devin Caughey, Andrea Campbell, and Adam Berinsky, and historian Christopher Capozzola, respond to a question from MIT Institute Writer Peter Dizikes.
All Commentaries
   

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BRAVO!
 


In Song Kim, Associate Professor of Political Science; photo by Stuart Darsch
 

POLITICAL SCIENCE
In Song Kim receives the 2021 Levitan Award
New project by the inventor of LobbyView.org will advance trade theory and the ability of citizens to influence public policy-making. “In Song's previous work has made legislative processes more transparent," said Dean Nobles, "and I am excited to see how his new project furthers the work of strengthening democracy.” 
Story | LobbyView.org
 

MEDIA + AWARDS DIGEST
February 2021 Edition
 



PHILOSOPHY + FILM
Cows in the Field: A Moovie Podcast | Justin and Laura Khoo
In a biweekly conversational podcast, philosopher Justin Khoo and art historian Laura Khoo discuss their thoughts and responses to the philosophical, aesthetic, and cultural themes in popular films.
Graze the Podcast | Justin Khoo's MIT webpage

COMPARATIVE MEDIA STUDIES / WRITING
Golem | Nick Monfort
"If Gertrude Stein had known how to use code, she might have ‘written’ this Golem. Fortunately, her alter ego, Nick Montfort, steps up to the plate, here producing what John Ashbery, with Stein in mind, called an ‘open field of narrative possibilities.’"
About the book | Nick Montfort's website

PHILOSOPHY
Five Questions: A Podcast | Kieran Setiya
In this lively series, Setiya asks other philosophers questions about themselves, for example, "What are you afraid of?"
Episodes | Follow on Twitter | Setiya website

BOOKSHELF
Books and Other Works from MIT's humanistic faculty
Browse the Online Bookshelf
 


RESEARCH | PANDEMIC

"Deep wounds underlie the vaccine skepticism in Black and Brown communities. Only relationship building can heal them." 

— Undark, Knight Science Fellowships at MIT


ECONOMICS
Building equity into vaccine distribution | Parag Pathak and colleagues
Pathak and colleagues have developed the "reserve system" which shows how vaccines and other medical goods can be allocated fairly. The system is already in use in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Tennessee.
Story by Peter Dizikes at MIT News

UNDARK | KNIGHT SCIENCE JOURNALISM AT MIT     
Building vaccine trust in marginalized communities | Wrenetha Julio and Kenya Beard
Julio and Beard present four principles for health care providers to follow to increase trust among Black and Brown communities in the Covid-19 vaccines. 
Commentary | Black Coalition Against Covid | About Undark

FULL SERIES
Explore the MIT SHASS Pandemic Series
 


RESEARCH | JUSTICE, JOBS, SECURITY
 


Rochester, NY is working with J-PAL NA to evaluate the city’s "Bridges to Success" program.

 

ABDUL LATIF JAMEEL POVERTY ACTION LAB / NORTH AMERICA
J-PAL North America calls for proposals from state and local governments
State and Local Innovation Initiative seeks government partners to evaluate policies and programs that address tremendous challenges — among them, the pandemic, natural disasters, police violence, and systemic racism.
Story via J-PAL

WORK OF THE FUTURE
AI and Jobs: Evidence from Online Vacancies | Autor, Acemoglu, Hadzell, Pascual
Study suggests that "AI is currently substituting for humans in a subset of tasks but it is not yet having detectable aggregate labor market consequences."
New working paper at NBER

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES / SECURITY STUDIES PROGRAM
Allocating limited resources | Barry Posen
How will the Biden administration allocate limited resources? Posen, a renowned grand strategy expert, provides insight.
Story | Seminar Series Videos | Related: Can Europe defend itself?

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES / STARR FORUM / SECURITY STUDIES PROGRAM
Foreign policy advice: Don’t look back | Former Wilhelm Fellows
The Biden administration must navigate a new set of global challenges say four former
Robert E. Wilhelm Fellows.
Story | Video
 


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Published by SHASS Communications
Office of the Dean, MIT School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences
Editor and Designer: Emily Hiestand
Publication Associate: Alison Lanier
Published 10 February 2021