Carola Conces Binder

Here is a nice review of my book in Library Journal: libraryjournal.com/review/shock-v… Please consider pre-ordering! amazon.com/Shock-Values-I…

🌍💰 If tariffs are rolled back, will prices actually fall? It seems like they should — but the reality may be more complicated. As SCL Associate Professor @cconces explained in @thehill, tariffs are only one piece of the pricing puzzle. Even if some tariffs are reduced and certain goods become cheaper, the overall price level may still remain relatively high. Once higher import costs move through supply chains and retailer markups, prices can become “sticky,” meaning they don’t always fall as quickly as they rise. It raises an interesting question: how much relief do consumers actually see when tariffs disappear? Read the article here: thehill.com/homenews/nexst…

In the fall, I'm returning to @UTAustin to help build the premier strategy and statecraft program. I'll join as an Asst Prof of Security Studies in @UTCivics and at the @ClementsCenter, where I'll serve as the Director of Research. Stay tuned for new positions and initiatives!

My favorite Warsh speech: "Challenging the Groupthink of the Guild", which I saw Kevin give in 2016 in DC. Prescient in many ways. It was Fed Groupthink that brought us Team Transitory & slow response to 2020s inflation. Challenging that kind of Groupthink is needed at the Fed.

From the WSJ editorial board: "Mr. Warsh is known as an inflation hawk, which makes Mr. Trump’s nomination especially notable. Mr. Trump wants lower interest rates, but the paradox of monetary policy is that someone with hawkish inflation credentials has more credibility with financial markets and can often find it easier to keep rates lower than easy-money men." wsj.com/opinion/kevin-…

However, the current Trump-Fed dynamic might be breaking this pattern. Binder’s recent work suggests that when a President explicitly attacks the Fed, the heuristic breaks. Instead of "My President runs the Fed," voters hear "The Fed is the Enemy." papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cf…

Merry Christmas everyone!

One thing I appreciate about @cconces' _Shock Values_ is showing just how non-obvious the concept of the price level, and its use as a policy target, was.

Meet Lillian, who is part of the inaugural class of the School of Civic Leadership! Lillian chose SCL to explore the relationship between philosophy and our constitutional tradition.

In Finland, some speeding fines are income-based: "a $250 offense for a low-income speeder can cost $100,000 for the rich." Interesting JMP by Payne and Kaila evaluates usefulness and voter preferences for this kind of policy: aaronjamespayne.github.io/payne_jmp.pdf

Excellent ⁦@CivitasOutlook⁩ article by ⁦@cconces⁩ about Mises’ insights into the problems of higher education.⬇️ civitasoutlook.com/research/ludwi…

We are one month away from the UT application deadline! Apply to the School of Civic Leadership by December 1st: utexas.pulse.ly/zn6rfjvvae

@Francesco_Bia @JohnHCochrane @D_W_Wilcox @LHSummers @td_econ @PatrickMcHenry SESSION 3: US legal and constitutional perspectives on independence Presentations by @steve_vladeck, @cconces, @LevMenand, & Paul Tucker, & discussion moderated by @AGelpern. Watch live: youtube.com/watch?v=WcwEPb…

Discussion on Central Bank Independence, @piie hosts - LIVE on C-SPAN2 c-span.org/event/public-a…

NOW: Conference on central bank independence in practice, discussing evidence, accountability, legal considerations, financial regulation, & more. Featuring @LHSummers, @JohnHCochrane, Richard Clarida, Roger Ferguson Jr., Daniel Tarullo, & more. Watch: piie.com/events/2025/ce…

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: Sign up for an in-person info session to learn about the Civics Honors major in the new School of Civic Leadership from 11:15 am - 12:15 pm on October 3. Register here: civicleadership.utexas.edu/events/scl-in-…

In yesterday's remarks, Stephen Miran made two very useful and under-appreciated points.

The murder of Charlie Kirk is a double tragedy. The first is a man’s life cut short, his friends and family bereft, his voice stilled. The second is that the costs of speaking up and speaking out have now risen dramatically. Not just democracy but civilization falters when people become afraid to express themselves or become the public face and voice of an idea. In a civilized society, speaking up and speaking out should not make you fear for your life. In that sense, this death is an act of terror. It makes every thoughtful public figure who writes and speaks worry that they might be next. That this happened to someone who loved to engage in calm debate makes the whole thing even sadder.

We join our fellow citizens of all faiths in praying for the repose of the soul of Charlie Kirk and for the comfort and consolation of his wife, two small children, and other loved ones. We recently appeared as guests on Charlie’s podcast, where he engaged us with moral seriousness and genuine kindness and respect. Like the two of us, Charlie was a person of strong convictions, but one who was willing to interact constructively with people whose beliefs differed from his own. For our nation, this is a moment for deep healing, and for bearing witness to the precious humanity of all our brothers and sisters--those with whom we agree and those with whom we disagree. Robert George and Cornel West

Job finding expectations of US workers reached survey low. Would be interesting to see how this perceptions play out as actual labor markets unfold.

How real is central bank independence? And what happens when it goes away? @cconces joins @planetmoney to discuss political pressure on central banks: npr.org/2025/09/05/nx-…