Erez Yoeli
@erezyoeli.bsky.social
Research Scientist, MIT Sloan
Director, Applied Cooperation Initiative
Co-author, Hidden Games
Research focus: How to motivate people to do good
Director, Applied Cooperation Initiative
Co-author, Hidden Games
Research focus: How to motivate people to do good
“Fully 15 percent of what comes in the door in Charlestown is not recyclable there.”
The best thing you can do is learn what your recycling facility accepts — and doesn’t.
But if you’re too busy to read up, here’s a guide that works pretty well at most US facilities… 🧵
The best thing you can do is learn what your recycling facility accepts — and doesn’t.
But if you’re too busy to read up, here’s a guide that works pretty well at most US facilities… 🧵
"Does our plastic actually get recycled?" The #CamberVille newsletter is always excellent, but this one is truly a must-read: a deep dive into the recycling processing plant where all of Somerville's recycling winds up: mailchi.mp/bostonglobe....
November 14, 2025 at 3:27 PM
“Fully 15 percent of what comes in the door in Charlestown is not recyclable there.”
The best thing you can do is learn what your recycling facility accepts — and doesn’t.
But if you’re too busy to read up, here’s a guide that works pretty well at most US facilities… 🧵
The best thing you can do is learn what your recycling facility accepts — and doesn’t.
But if you’re too busy to read up, here’s a guide that works pretty well at most US facilities… 🧵
Trump does plenty of the former. Putin does none of the latter. Both are despicable, neither are weak.
I get that Adam is advocating for a leadership style he admires, but i don’t think it has so much to do with strength.
I get that Adam is advocating for a leadership style he admires, but i don’t think it has so much to do with strength.
Weak leaders insist that they're the best. They seek attention to feed their egos, and measure success by how many followers they attract.
Strong leaders ask how they can get better. They seek feedback to fuel their growth, and gauge success by how many lives they improve.
Strong leaders ask how they can get better. They seek feedback to fuel their growth, and gauge success by how many lives they improve.
October 30, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Trump does plenty of the former. Putin does none of the latter. Both are despicable, neither are weak.
I get that Adam is advocating for a leadership style he admires, but i don’t think it has so much to do with strength.
I get that Adam is advocating for a leadership style he admires, but i don’t think it has so much to do with strength.
Observability
Take a picture of yourself at the No Kings rally.
Print it.
Put it in a frame.
Your grandchildren will speak about you for generations to come. You took a stand against fascism. You stood up for democracy. 
Print it.
Put it in a frame.
Your grandchildren will speak about you for generations to come. You took a stand against fascism. You stood up for democracy. 
October 17, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Observability
In 1492, my great great… grandfather set sail from Spain.
To Naples.
www.jewishdestiny.com/destinys-pro...
To Naples.
www.jewishdestiny.com/destinys-pro...
Abarbanel | The Destiny Foundation
www.jewishdestiny.com
October 13, 2025 at 5:57 PM
In 1492, my great great… grandfather set sail from Spain.
To Naples.
www.jewishdestiny.com/destinys-pro...
To Naples.
www.jewishdestiny.com/destinys-pro...
Well this seems like a cool job.
We're hiring a Data Scientist at @arsenalfc.bsky.social to push the state-of-the-art in applied women's football research! careers.arsenal.com/jobs/6550595...
Feel free to reach out with any questions 🙂
Feel free to reach out with any questions 🙂
October 11, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Well this seems like a cool job.
Like Olivia, I would look down upon HRW if it accepted Ansari's donations. This is an example of higher-order punishment, which is critical for supporting norms.
Notice: we have this intuition even though we know the world would be a better place if Saudi money is in HRW's account than in Ansari's.
Notice: we have this intuition even though we know the world would be a better place if Saudi money is in HRW's account than in Ansari's.
October 10, 2025 at 12:34 AM
Like Olivia, I would look down upon HRW if it accepted Ansari's donations. This is an example of higher-order punishment, which is critical for supporting norms.
Notice: we have this intuition even though we know the world would be a better place if Saudi money is in HRW's account than in Ansari's.
Notice: we have this intuition even though we know the world would be a better place if Saudi money is in HRW's account than in Ansari's.
Another norm supporting our democracy has fallen.
“Whatever threshold gets set here is the new floor for future prosecutions when roles are reversed,” Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina told a CNN reporter. “That’s just the way this town works.”
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
“Whatever threshold gets set here is the new floor for future prosecutions when roles are reversed,” Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina told a CNN reporter. “That’s just the way this town works.”
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
Live Updates: N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James Indicted After Trump’s Pressure Campaign
www.nytimes.com
October 10, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Another norm supporting our democracy has fallen.
“Whatever threshold gets set here is the new floor for future prosecutions when roles are reversed,” Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina told a CNN reporter. “That’s just the way this town works.”
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
“Whatever threshold gets set here is the new floor for future prosecutions when roles are reversed,” Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina told a CNN reporter. “That’s just the way this town works.”
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
Bet there’s a link with curly hair, too. And study of the Talmud. And eating cholent on weekends.
Besides linking Tylenol in pregnant women to autism, RFK Jr. now says circumcision is part of the reason why kids are autistic.
"Children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism, and it's highly likely because they're given Tylenol. None of this is positive..."
"Children who are circumcised early have double the rate of autism, and it's highly likely because they're given Tylenol. None of this is positive..."
October 9, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Bet there’s a link with curly hair, too. And study of the Talmud. And eating cholent on weekends.
Reposted by Erez Yoeli
I've been working on a new tool, Refine, to make scholars more productive. If you're interested in being among the very first to try the beta, please read on.
Refine leverages the best current AI models to draw your attention to potential errors and clarity issues in research paper drafts.
1/
Refine leverages the best current AI models to draw your attention to potential errors and clarity issues in research paper drafts.
1/
July 24, 2025 at 3:24 AM
I've been working on a new tool, Refine, to make scholars more productive. If you're interested in being among the very first to try the beta, please read on.
Refine leverages the best current AI models to draw your attention to potential errors and clarity issues in research paper drafts.
1/
Refine leverages the best current AI models to draw your attention to potential errors and clarity issues in research paper drafts.
1/
This isn’t (yet) a clear example of a norm unraveling, since it’s the same guy violating the norm multiple times.
But future governments will have to proactively right this ship, or the norm will be violated again — and the president will effectively be immune from investigation.
But future governments will have to proactively right this ship, or the norm will be violated again — and the president will effectively be immune from investigation.
Trump says other opponents will be targeted after Comey indictment on.ft.com/3VCiQja
Donald Trump says other opponents will be targeted after Comey indictment
President warns his administration will go after ‘corrupt, radical-left Democrats’
on.ft.com
September 26, 2025 at 3:20 PM
This isn’t (yet) a clear example of a norm unraveling, since it’s the same guy violating the norm multiple times.
But future governments will have to proactively right this ship, or the norm will be violated again — and the president will effectively be immune from investigation.
But future governments will have to proactively right this ship, or the norm will be violated again — and the president will effectively be immune from investigation.
Reposted by Erez Yoeli
🚨postdoc opportunity at UBC🚨 applications are now open for the Killam Postdoctoral Fellowship, due internally Oct. 15 - www.postdocs.ubc.ca/award/killam...
I can nominate 1 person and give feedback on that nominee's materials - if interested plz email me by Sept. 10 - join us!
I can nominate 1 person and give feedback on that nominee's materials - if interested plz email me by Sept. 10 - join us!
August 17, 2025 at 5:15 PM
🚨postdoc opportunity at UBC🚨 applications are now open for the Killam Postdoctoral Fellowship, due internally Oct. 15 - www.postdocs.ubc.ca/award/killam...
I can nominate 1 person and give feedback on that nominee's materials - if interested plz email me by Sept. 10 - join us!
I can nominate 1 person and give feedback on that nominee's materials - if interested plz email me by Sept. 10 - join us!
There is no law that prevents the president from firing the head of the BLS if they don’t like BLS’s numbers. Just a norm.
Now there is neither a law nor a norm.
Now there is neither a law nor a norm.
Statement from the largest economics association about the BLS firing
As context: AEA approximately never makes such public statements
This is a big deal
As context: AEA approximately never makes such public statements
This is a big deal
August 3, 2025 at 10:03 AM
There is no law that prevents the president from firing the head of the BLS if they don’t like BLS’s numbers. Just a norm.
Now there is neither a law nor a norm.
Now there is neither a law nor a norm.
Three observations:
1. The Roberts Court position on presidential immunity seems slightly less crazy today.
2. It's hard to prevent law enforcement from being abused in such ways, and sucks that Rs let existing norms collapse.
3. Tulsi looks like RFK Jr.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/u...
1. The Roberts Court position on presidential immunity seems slightly less crazy today.
2. It's hard to prevent law enforcement from being abused in such ways, and sucks that Rs let existing norms collapse.
3. Tulsi looks like RFK Jr.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/u...
Gabbard Releases New Documents Targeting Obama Administration, as Justice Dept. Forms Task Force
www.nytimes.com
July 24, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Three observations:
1. The Roberts Court position on presidential immunity seems slightly less crazy today.
2. It's hard to prevent law enforcement from being abused in such ways, and sucks that Rs let existing norms collapse.
3. Tulsi looks like RFK Jr.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/u...
1. The Roberts Court position on presidential immunity seems slightly less crazy today.
2. It's hard to prevent law enforcement from being abused in such ways, and sucks that Rs let existing norms collapse.
3. Tulsi looks like RFK Jr.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/23/u...
'Unraveling' of a norm, in real-time.
CBS's "we can put this behind us" idea is the biggest category error of all.
Each capitulation lays the groundwork for the next. Each surrender emboldens Trump much more.
This won't end until news orgs push back, in unison.
Via @brianstelter.bsky.social
view.newsletters.cnn.com/messages/175...
Each capitulation lays the groundwork for the next. Each surrender emboldens Trump much more.
This won't end until news orgs push back, in unison.
Via @brianstelter.bsky.social
view.newsletters.cnn.com/messages/175...
July 2, 2025 at 2:35 PM
'Unraveling' of a norm, in real-time.
The replication crisis is a great, recent example of norms changing -- and that change resulting in better social outcomes.
Thrilled to see a news piece by @science.org on my recent paper. By analyzing p-values across >240k papers, the study suggests that the rate of statistically questionable findings in psychology has declined since the replication crisis began
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
‘A big win’: Dubious statistical results are becoming less common in psychology
Fewer papers are reporting findings on the border of statistical significance, a potential marker of dodgy research practices
www.science.org
June 6, 2025 at 7:58 PM
The replication crisis is a great, recent example of norms changing -- and that change resulting in better social outcomes.
The golden rule of spin: if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all.
June 6, 2025 at 1:28 AM
The golden rule of spin: if you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all.
These sorts of 'beachhead' violations of a norm (don't violate due process) are the sorts of things that cause the norm to unravel. I hope the norm holds, but IMO, this is *very* dangerous.
Amazing how masked, armed men kidnapping people without due process is now normal in the U.S., as are quotas for these kidnappings.
June 4, 2025 at 2:08 PM
These sorts of 'beachhead' violations of a norm (don't violate due process) are the sorts of things that cause the norm to unravel. I hope the norm holds, but IMO, this is *very* dangerous.
Question for legal scholars:
As someone who once worked for an independent agency, I appreciate the value that their independence provides. If SCOTUS decides that independent agencies are unconstitutional, what are alternatives for ensuring a more stable, apolitical civil service?
As someone who once worked for an independent agency, I appreciate the value that their independence provides. If SCOTUS decides that independent agencies are unconstitutional, what are alternatives for ensuring a more stable, apolitical civil service?
May 23, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Question for legal scholars:
As someone who once worked for an independent agency, I appreciate the value that their independence provides. If SCOTUS decides that independent agencies are unconstitutional, what are alternatives for ensuring a more stable, apolitical civil service?
As someone who once worked for an independent agency, I appreciate the value that their independence provides. If SCOTUS decides that independent agencies are unconstitutional, what are alternatives for ensuring a more stable, apolitical civil service?
A friend is wrapping their PhD at Harvard. They have a job lined up, but planned to defend and walk in a few months.
Following today’s announcement, their advisor moved the defense. To tomorrow.
That is how it’s done.
Following today’s announcement, their advisor moved the defense. To tomorrow.
That is how it’s done.
May 23, 2025 at 3:51 AM
A friend is wrapping their PhD at Harvard. They have a job lined up, but planned to defend and walk in a few months.
Following today’s announcement, their advisor moved the defense. To tomorrow.
That is how it’s done.
Following today’s announcement, their advisor moved the defense. To tomorrow.
That is how it’s done.
Incredible that which team of men-who-run-around-in-circles you root for says something about you and your values.
May 9, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Incredible that which team of men-who-run-around-in-circles you root for says something about you and your values.
Garber’s got the gift of gab
April 15, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Garber’s got the gift of gab
A huge undertaking, including info on whether firms have changed/deleted references to DEI on their websites
🚨Georgetown University Law Center students are detailing which law firms have caved and which have stood up to the Trump regime. They have created this spreadsheet: docs.google.com/spreadsheets... Please share widely.
April 3, 2025 at 6:12 PM
This is the most sensible explanation for Trump’s tariffs that I’ve seen.
He may also have some quaint ideas about how tariffs are good for society. But if they didn’t bolster executive power we wouldn’t have them.
He may also have some quaint ideas about how tariffs are good for society. But if they didn’t bolster executive power we wouldn’t have them.
Those trying to understand the tariffs as economic policy are dangerously naive.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
April 3, 2025 at 1:30 PM
This is the most sensible explanation for Trump’s tariffs that I’ve seen.
He may also have some quaint ideas about how tariffs are good for society. But if they didn’t bolster executive power we wouldn’t have them.
He may also have some quaint ideas about how tariffs are good for society. But if they didn’t bolster executive power we wouldn’t have them.
LSE's @eapower.bsky.social is seeking a postdoc to model the impacts of social networks and reputation on inequality. Very cool opportunity.
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Research Officer in Modelling Social Dynamics
Research Officer in Modelling Social Dynamics,
,
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><span>LSE is committed to building a diverse, equitable and truly inclusive university</span></em></p>
<p style="tex...
jobs.lse.ac.uk
April 2, 2025 at 1:19 PM
LSE's @eapower.bsky.social is seeking a postdoc to model the impacts of social networks and reputation on inequality. Very cool opportunity.
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
jobs.lse.ac.uk/Vacancies/W/...
Federal funding of university research has its roots in WWII, specifically finding new ways to scale penicillin production to protect our troops from infectious diseases.
news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...
news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...
U.S. innovation ecosystem is envy of world. Here’s how it got started. — Harvard Gazette
Economist who studies technological change looks at public-private research partnership amid rising questions on federal funding.
news.harvard.edu
March 20, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Federal funding of university research has its roots in WWII, specifically finding new ways to scale penicillin production to protect our troops from infectious diseases.
news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...
news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...