In 1860, the New York Times declared that "no one invention has brought with it so great a relief for our mothers and daughters as these iron needle-women." They were, of course, referring to the sewing machine. But how much did it really change the lives of women in the 19th century? In the latest VoxTalks Economics Podcast, Tim Phillips speaks with Philipp Ager (@EconUniMannheim) about his research with Davide Coluccia (@BristolUni), which traces the spread of the sewing machine across Massachusetts between 1850 and 1900. Their findings reveal a striking divide across social classes. 🎧 Listen now: ow.ly/PYjI50Zb95O #VoxTalks #Economics #EconHistory #Gender #Labour

New CEPR Discussion Paper - DP21496 Liberation Technology? The Impact of the Sewing Machine on Women Philipp Ager @MannheimBSchool @EconUniMannheim, Davide Coluccia @BristolUni ow.ly/ny0O50Z17V7 #CEPR_EH

The 4th edition of the Uppsala Econ History Workshop is over. As usual, fantastic presentations and a great keynote too! Thanks to all participants and see you next year

Last day of BÆM 2026. We conclude with a workshop on "Fairness in the Economy." We again have a jam-packed program of great presentations: baem.info/Program_FIE_26.pdf Stay tuned for live coverage!

@ChrisFAlbert shows that US immigrants buy substantially more imported goods than natives. They also reduce trade costs and increase local import supply, with small spillovers to natives. Tariffs hit immigrant households far harder than natives.

@drescamillag documents that early 20th-century railroad access in Mexico doubled migration to the US. The effect persists, despite railroads becoming obsolete. Mechanism: migrant-assisting institutions emerged, turning rail lines into persistent migration corridors.

Our third invited speaker, Ran Abramitzky (@StanfordEcon), on the interaction between immigration and politics: if immigrants' outcomes are positive, why is immigration politics so negative? Long-run perspective using historical US data.

@sosakalli shows Greek Orthodox refugees expelled from Anatolia to Greece in the 1920s (and their descendants) initially lagged in education but eventually outperformed natives. They also favored more portable degrees such as engineering & medicine.

Can migrant letters shape culture at origin? @MartinFS13 presents evidence from 6,000 letters by 19th-century Irish migrants in North America. The Catholic Church’s staggered expansion in the US increased religious content, contributing to a Catholic revival in Ireland.

Second day! First up is @DSchindlerEcon showing that sexual violence committed by French-Moroccan soldiers in Italy during WWII triggered a far-right shift after the recent arrival of immigrants from Syria/MENA. Mechanism: selective recall of collective memory.

Closing talk by Mushfiq Mobarak (@YaleEconomics), who revisits a central question in development: when mobility can unlock opportunity, should policy be designed to help people move?

@Sarah_Winton_ studies Jordan’s decision to grant Syrian refugees the right to work. Refugees moved to better jobs, while Jordanians shifted out of the most exposed occupations. Result: higher output, lower inequality, and the largest gains for the poorest Jordanians.

Next up, @Linchuan_Xu studies labor recruitment agencies in China. By connecting workers in poorer regions to jobs in high-wage cities, these middlemen increase temporary migration, narrow regional wage gaps, generate output gains, and capture a large share as profits.

Jérôme Valette (@CEPII_Paris) studies how far-right movements reshape mainstream politics in France. As the Front National gained votes, mainstream right candidates moved to its terrain, talking more negatively about immigration and linking it to crime and welfare.

With @ctheoharides, we turn to how migration moves more than people. International mobility can carry skills, ideas, and human capital across borders, with important lessons for how policy shapes who benefits from these flows.

Final speaker before lunch: @GovindYajna, who studies France’s 1993 reform requiring children of immigrants to formally request French citizenship. The reform weakened French identity, increased perceived discrimination, and reduced cultural integration.

Emma Thil (U. of Luxembourg) studies how European national football shapes immigration attitudes. When diverse teams win, people become more open to immigration. When they lose, immigrant-origin players become scapegoats, and support for the far right increases.

Next, @mkaradja shows that war reaches people who never enter the conflict zone. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainians in Sweden saw mental-health prescriptions rise by 30%, while also working and earning more to support family and friends at home.

@AlexMYarkin on how the internet changed the migration experience. As access expands at home, immigrants in the US stay connected to origin networks, leading to lower English proficiency and naturalization, but less segregation and higher well-being.