Dive into the wild world of anonymous discussions among economists, where candid exchanges often turn toxic. Uncover how a flaw in anonymity exposed the identities behind some truly nasty comments, revealing troubling patterns in academia. Explore the ethical challenges posed by anonymity and its impact on professional discourse. The conversation touches on broader issues within the economics field, all while navigating the fine line between free speech and accountability. Get ready for a thought-provoking ride through the darker corners of economic communication.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Accidental Discovery
Florian Ederer's involvement began with a conversation about an anonymous message board.
This conversation sparked a chain of events leading to a significant discovery.
insights INSIGHT
Anonymity Flaw
Kyle Jensen, an engineer, noticed a flaw in EJMR's anonymity.
This flaw allowed identification of institutions behind toxic posts.
insights INSIGHT
Emotional Labor Market
EJMR provides a platform for venting and sharing discontent.
This anonymity fuels aggressive and often toxic conversations.
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Economics Job Market Rumors is a website that's half a job information Wiki, where people post about what's going on inside economics departments, and half a discussion forum, where anyone with an internet connection can ask the economics hive mind whatever they want. All anonymously.
People can talk about finding work, share rumors, and just blow off steam. And that steam can get scaldingly hot. The forum has become notorious for racist and sexist posts, often attacking specific women and people from marginalized backgrounds.
Last year, economist Florian Ederer and engineer Kyle Jensen discovered a flaw in the way the site gave anonymity to its users. The flaw made it possible to identify which universities and institutions were the sources of many of the toxic posts on the site. And helped answer a longstanding question that's dogged the economics profession: was the toxicity on EJMR the work of a bunch of fringey internet trolls, or was it a symptom of a much deeper problem within economics itself?
This episode was hosted by Mary Childs and Alexi Horowitz-Ghazi. It was produced by Willa Rubin with help from James Sneed and Sam Yellowhorse Kesler. It was edited by Keith Romer and engineered by Josh Newell. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.
Planet Money