Gray Kimbrough
@graykimbrough.bsky.social
Economist, UNCG PhD, "serial millennial myth debunker," labor, housing and time use researcher, AU adjunct prof. Views are my own and not any employer's.
Private equity has apparently tired of sucking any surplus out of for-profit businesses and expanded into converting more altruistic enterprises into profit-making ones.
For youth sports, this seems a hugely negative change for everyone involved except the few profiting. www.wsj.com/sports/baseb...
For youth sports, this seems a hugely negative change for everyone involved except the few profiting. www.wsj.com/sports/baseb...
Advanced Stats and $500 Bats: Why Baseball for 6-Year-Olds Is Breaking the Bank
Travel teams, high-end gear and specialized training are turning America’s pastime into a sport for rich kids.
www.wsj.com
October 4, 2026 at 5:07 PM
Private equity has apparently tired of sucking any surplus out of for-profit businesses and expanded into converting more altruistic enterprises into profit-making ones.
For youth sports, this seems a hugely negative change for everyone involved except the few profiting. www.wsj.com/sports/baseb...
For youth sports, this seems a hugely negative change for everyone involved except the few profiting. www.wsj.com/sports/baseb...
I'm wary of politicians telling people that we can solve problems by taxing Other People. I'd like to see this framed as an issue of fairness:
We're good at taxing labor income. But through an array of tax breaks, we don't tax income from wealth and pass-through income as much. We should fix that.
We're good at taxing labor income. But through an array of tax breaks, we don't tax income from wealth and pass-through income as much. We should fix that.
October 2, 2026 at 12:26 PM
I'm wary of politicians telling people that we can solve problems by taxing Other People. I'd like to see this framed as an issue of fairness:
We're good at taxing labor income. But through an array of tax breaks, we don't tax income from wealth and pass-through income as much. We should fix that.
We're good at taxing labor income. But through an array of tax breaks, we don't tax income from wealth and pass-through income as much. We should fix that.
Shoutout to Andrew Beaton (author of the piece) or whoever at @wsj.com had fun with the graph titles in this article about Travis Kelce.
September 30, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Shoutout to Andrew Beaton (author of the piece) or whoever at @wsj.com had fun with the graph titles in this article about Travis Kelce.
The same is true of "luxury townhouses" or basically anything new other than detached single-family homes.
Purchasing one of these means purchasing a lot less land than with a detached SFH. The structure depreciates and the land (often) appreciates, widening the affordability gap over time.
Purchasing one of these means purchasing a lot less land than with a detached SFH. The structure depreciates and the land (often) appreciates, widening the affordability gap over time.
the thing with luxury condos is that they're mostly a myth.
1. within the same county, condos sell for 35% less than single family homes
2. within the same neighborhood, they sell for 43% less
3. within the same neighborhood and adjusting for some quality characteristics, they sell for 21% less
1. within the same county, condos sell for 35% less than single family homes
2. within the same neighborhood, they sell for 43% less
3. within the same neighborhood and adjusting for some quality characteristics, they sell for 21% less
September 24, 2026 at 10:59 PM
The same is true of "luxury townhouses" or basically anything new other than detached single-family homes.
Purchasing one of these means purchasing a lot less land than with a detached SFH. The structure depreciates and the land (often) appreciates, widening the affordability gap over time.
Purchasing one of these means purchasing a lot less land than with a detached SFH. The structure depreciates and the land (often) appreciates, widening the affordability gap over time.
If I can find a good donut place while traveling, I make a point of buying some to bring back for my family.
ChuChu Donuts were definitely worth the effort to transport back from Des Moines (and walking a mile out of my way early in the morning).
ChuChu Donuts were definitely worth the effort to transport back from Des Moines (and walking a mile out of my way early in the morning).
September 24, 2026 at 8:59 PM
If I can find a good donut place while traveling, I make a point of buying some to bring back for my family.
ChuChu Donuts were definitely worth the effort to transport back from Des Moines (and walking a mile out of my way early in the morning).
ChuChu Donuts were definitely worth the effort to transport back from Des Moines (and walking a mile out of my way early in the morning).
I was not expecting the Iowa State Capitol to go this hard.
September 15, 2026 at 11:36 PM
I was not expecting the Iowa State Capitol to go this hard.
I've lived in the DC area for over 15 years, but I still snap pictures of the view of the Potomac when my Metro train pops over the bridge on the way to National.
September 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM
I've lived in the DC area for over 15 years, but I still snap pictures of the view of the Potomac when my Metro train pops over the bridge on the way to National.
It was a lovely day to meet this turtle in Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.
September 7, 2026 at 11:41 PM
It was a lovely day to meet this turtle in Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens.
It was a beautiful day for a ride on the MBT.
September 6, 2026 at 11:15 PM
It was a beautiful day for a ride on the MBT.
Looking up tour dates for my favorite Sardinian stoner-rock band (Elepharmers), I saw that they're playing this festival in Sardinia. I certainly wouldn't have expected to see Beth Orton listed, but this honestly sounds like a great festival lineup.
August 30, 2026 at 9:06 PM
Looking up tour dates for my favorite Sardinian stoner-rock band (Elepharmers), I saw that they're playing this festival in Sardinia. I certainly wouldn't have expected to see Beth Orton listed, but this honestly sounds like a great festival lineup.
Sometimes when someone gives a tool a name they find clever or funny, it can eventually end up just looking really dumb when use if the tool expands to other groups. Like, say, this:
August 29, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Sometimes when someone gives a tool a name they find clever or funny, it can eventually end up just looking really dumb when use if the tool expands to other groups. Like, say, this:
The Metro pop-up store has some nice Metro-themed merchandise, and also a lot of stuff for a dorm room (I guess?).
August 29, 2026 at 1:39 PM
The Metro pop-up store has some nice Metro-themed merchandise, and also a lot of stuff for a dorm room (I guess?).
My daughter has a procedure performed 2-3 times per year. It takes a few minutes and I owe a $30 copay after insurance.
In July it was billed as surgery, for thousands of dollars. I've spent hours calling the Children's National billing office and they just told me that they won't fix it.
In July it was billed as surgery, for thousands of dollars. I've spent hours calling the Children's National billing office and they just told me that they won't fix it.
August 28, 2026 at 8:14 PM
My daughter has a procedure performed 2-3 times per year. It takes a few minutes and I owe a $30 copay after insurance.
In July it was billed as surgery, for thousands of dollars. I've spent hours calling the Children's National billing office and they just told me that they won't fix it.
In July it was billed as surgery, for thousands of dollars. I've spent hours calling the Children's National billing office and they just told me that they won't fix it.
Also, please spend a few minutes ensuring that your kids are wearing their helmets correctly! I never harass people about this, but I see so many kids wearing helmets so loose that they don't protect the forehead at all.
You can be annoyed at things that overemphasize personal responsibility and education over systemic change and greater government regulation. But you should still wear a bike helmet and replace it every three to five years.
August 26, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Also, please spend a few minutes ensuring that your kids are wearing their helmets correctly! I never harass people about this, but I see so many kids wearing helmets so loose that they don't protect the forehead at all.
We adopted an orphaned kitten that has been (after only a few days) playing well with the resident almost-one-year-old cat, and now my photo roll mainly looks like this.
August 26, 2026 at 6:55 PM
We adopted an orphaned kitten that has been (after only a few days) playing well with the resident almost-one-year-old cat, and now my photo roll mainly looks like this.
I got my first smartwatch last week, and my main takeaway so far is that I'm not completely sure that I needed access to all of the information I now have about my body.
August 26, 2026 at 6:10 PM
I got my first smartwatch last week, and my main takeaway so far is that I'm not completely sure that I needed access to all of the information I now have about my body.
I've seen this graph before, but I still can't quite wrap my head around it being accurate.
The bump around 2007 makes sense (around the time of a mandate to have passports to travel to more nearby countries), but I think what breaks my brain is the overall linear trend back to a 3% level in 1989.
The bump around 2007 makes sense (around the time of a mandate to have passports to travel to more nearby countries), but I think what breaks my brain is the overall linear trend back to a 3% level in 1989.
August 10, 2026 at 3:14 PM
I've seen this graph before, but I still can't quite wrap my head around it being accurate.
The bump around 2007 makes sense (around the time of a mandate to have passports to travel to more nearby countries), but I think what breaks my brain is the overall linear trend back to a 3% level in 1989.
The bump around 2007 makes sense (around the time of a mandate to have passports to travel to more nearby countries), but I think what breaks my brain is the overall linear trend back to a 3% level in 1989.
Reposted by Gray Kimbrough
Folks - I'm seeing a fair amount of labor force participation takes that don't realize the published numbers pre- and post-January 2026 are NOT COMPARABLE.
Of the 0.8pp decline in LFPR over the past year, over *half* is a statistical artifact. (The other half is real.)
Of the 0.8pp decline in LFPR over the past year, over *half* is a statistical artifact. (The other half is real.)
August 7, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Folks - I'm seeing a fair amount of labor force participation takes that don't realize the published numbers pre- and post-January 2026 are NOT COMPARABLE.
Of the 0.8pp decline in LFPR over the past year, over *half* is a statistical artifact. (The other half is real.)
Of the 0.8pp decline in LFPR over the past year, over *half* is a statistical artifact. (The other half is real.)
A milestone birthday today has me thinking about four years ago, when I traveled to NYC and first told a friend that after a year in therapy on my own, I knew I would be getting a divorce.
I had no idea how hard things would be or how great they would then get, but his girlfriend took this picture.
I had no idea how hard things would be or how great they would then get, but his girlfriend took this picture.
August 7, 2026 at 12:58 AM
A milestone birthday today has me thinking about four years ago, when I traveled to NYC and first told a friend that after a year in therapy on my own, I knew I would be getting a divorce.
I had no idea how hard things would be or how great they would then get, but his girlfriend took this picture.
I had no idea how hard things would be or how great they would then get, but his girlfriend took this picture.
I'm getting excited about going to Montreal in a week and a half and went ahead and got my monthly Bixi membership (under $20 USD). That station density is just so beautiful.
August 5, 2026 at 11:54 PM
I'm getting excited about going to Montreal in a week and a half and went ahead and got my monthly Bixi membership (under $20 USD). That station density is just so beautiful.
She may not be a tiny kitten any more, but she's still an awfully adorable lap cat.
August 5, 2026 at 1:03 AM
She may not be a tiny kitten any more, but she's still an awfully adorable lap cat.
I certainly didn't expect @dropout.tv to start streaming the works of Don Hertzfeldt, but I'm very excited to revisit some of these incredible films and watch the few I haven't seen before!
I'll be starting with the incredible "The Meaning of Life."
I'll be starting with the incredible "The Meaning of Life."
August 4, 2026 at 5:42 PM
I certainly didn't expect @dropout.tv to start streaming the works of Don Hertzfeldt, but I'm very excited to revisit some of these incredible films and watch the few I haven't seen before!
I'll be starting with the incredible "The Meaning of Life."
I'll be starting with the incredible "The Meaning of Life."
It's been the same story in far too many U.S. cities: entrenched homeowners think they should be able to keep out all new housing. They're often willing to spend huge sums on lawyers to file lawsuits to get their way.
I'm glad this is finally being recognized as generational warfare.
I'm glad this is finally being recognized as generational warfare.
August 4, 2026 at 11:33 AM
It's been the same story in far too many U.S. cities: entrenched homeowners think they should be able to keep out all new housing. They're often willing to spend huge sums on lawyers to file lawsuits to get their way.
I'm glad this is finally being recognized as generational warfare.
I'm glad this is finally being recognized as generational warfare.
Meanwhile, my nine year old is having a great time at Durham Bulls baseball camp, pitching with AAA relievers and attempting to hit scrimmage tosses from the outfield over the left field wall.
July 31, 2026 at 1:18 AM
Meanwhile, my nine year old is having a great time at Durham Bulls baseball camp, pitching with AAA relievers and attempting to hit scrimmage tosses from the outfield over the left field wall.
It was just my 12 year old and me tonight, so we got Ethiopian takeout and I introduced her to Game Changer and Make Some Noise.
It was a good night.
It was a good night.
July 31, 2026 at 1:09 AM
It was just my 12 year old and me tonight, so we got Ethiopian takeout and I introduced her to Game Changer and Make Some Noise.
It was a good night.
It was a good night.