Forked Lightning

Forked Lightning explores the dynamics of education, focusing on the impact of elite college admissions, the role of skills and decision-making in economic success, and the challenges in the current educational system. It critically examines socioeconomic disparities, the value of Ivy-Plus colleges, and the potential of retraining and technology in education.

Education System Economic Inequality Labor Economics Skills and Workforce Development College Admissions Technology in Education

The hottest Substack posts of Forked Lightning

And their main takeaways

Do colleges have a free speech problem?

471 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23

Harvard ranks poorly in free speech according to a study by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Harvard's free speech issues may be rooted in social norms and misperceptions of others' beliefs
Correcting misperceptions about others' beliefs can lead to positive changes in behavior

The trouble with holistic admissions

432 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23

Selective colleges struggle with too many qualified applicants to choose from
Holistic admissions looks beyond grades but may not accurately predict success
Wealth can influence the distinctiveness and favoritism in college admissions

Welcome to Forked Lightning

432 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23

The newsletter focuses on education, skills, and the future of work.
Applicants from wealthy families are more likely to attend Ivy-Plus colleges.
The paper highlights how attending Ivy-Plus colleges impacts student outcomes.

Ivy-Plus colleges are a gateway to the elite

393 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23

Attending Ivy-Plus colleges can lead to higher earnings and elite graduate school attendance
Admission off the waitlist at Ivy-Plus colleges is often about class-balancing and yield management
Studies show Ivy-Plus college attendees are more likely to have top earnings and work in prestigious firms

Is good decision-making a skill?

314 implied HN points • 11 Sep 23

Good decision-making is a valuable skill for success in jobs that require problem-solving.
The ability to allocate resources effectively is linked to higher earnings in decision-intensive occupations.
Allocative skill, measured through tools like the Assignment Game, can predict income potential, showcasing the importance of decision-making ability.

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A Young Person’s Guide to Larry Katz, Part 2

294 implied HN points • 22 Aug 23

Larry Katz led the Moving to Opportunity (MTO) demonstration to study neighborhood impact on poverty.
MTO showed no economic impact but significantly improved mental and physical health for families.
MTO study linked to federal tax records found that children benefited more than adults from moving to better neighborhoods.

Can cross-country income differences be explained by differences in skills?

275 implied HN points • 29 Aug 23

In economics, the best is sometimes the enemy of the good.
Development accounting demands a lot from the data, making it a challenging method.
Studying wage gains from migration can provide insight into the importance of human capital in explaining cross-country income differences.

The lottery for high-paying jobs after college

275 implied HN points • 26 Jul 23

Attending Ivy-Plus colleges can significantly increase your chance of landing high-paying jobs.
Ivy-Plus graduates have better chances of reaching the top income percentiles compared to graduates from public universities.
On-campus recruiting by prestigious firms plays a crucial role in shaping future career paths for Ivy-Plus college graduates.

A Young Person’s Guide to Larry Katz

275 implied HN points • 15 Aug 23

Larry Katz has made significant contributions to modern labor economics, particularly in understanding wage differences based on education levels.
Katz's key insight is that the college wage premium reflects the equilibrium "price" of skills in an economy, influenced by supply and demand factors.
Katz's work on the impact of education and technology on earnings helps explain the growing wage inequality, emphasizing the importance of skill-biased technological change.

Learn how to be smarter with this one stupid trick

235 implied HN points • 08 Aug 23

Soft skills are becoming increasingly valuable in the labor market.
Higher-order skills like problem-solving and teamwork are in demand by employers.
Grit and cognitive endurance are skills that can be developed through practice and structured support.

Can we retrain older workers?

196 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23

Older workers can learn new skills through retraining programs.
Investing in job training and education benefits both individuals and the economy.
It is important to provide opportunities for lifelong learning and reskilling for older workers.

Generative AI is a Black Mirror for Educators

157 implied HN points • 05 Sep 23

Generative AI challenges traditional teaching methods like lecture classes.
Generative AI increases the risk of technology-enabled cheating in education.
Active learning practices enhance student performance and understanding better than traditional lecture-based classes.

Forked Lightning

78 implied HN points • 24 Jul 23

The newsletter is focused on topics like education, skills, and the future of work
Elite college admissions show preferential treatment for rich kids in admissions
Attending an Ivy-Plus college can significantly impact future earnings and career opportunities

The Future of Highly Selective College Admissions

2 HN points • 28 Jul 23

Legacy preferences in college admissions can disproportionately benefit high-income applicants and reduce opportunities for others.
Eliminating legacy preferences alone may not significantly improve socioeconomic diversity in highly selective colleges.
Highly selective colleges can increase socioeconomic diversity by implementing policies like setting a rigorous academic cutoff and expanding class sizes.