Scott Sommers
@scott_sommers56
Followers
119
Following
6K
Media
0
Statuses
85
Econ PhD Student, University of Minnesota | University of Richmond '16 | Former Javelin Thrower (@urichmond)
Washington, DC
Joined October 2014
Morning photo from my office at the University of Minnesota this morning. Outside temperature -22 degrees Celsius. Time: 6:35 am.
14
8
218
In her job market paper, @julipuligamboa develops a sovereign default model to examine the trade-off developing countries face between using external borrowing to finance public investment and the default risk that such borrowing creates.
Should IMF limit foreign borrowing by governments of developing nations? @UMN_Econ JMC Juliana Gamboa-Arbelaez @julipuligamboa argues any such restrictions need to depend on conditions in the country and how the government spends borrowed funds. https://t.co/iVJ85CphNF
1
3
4
My good friend @Leo_BarretoV is on the job market this year. His JMP tackles a major puzzle: why U.S. consumer sentiment stayed depressed in the post-pandemic years despite low unemployment and inflation. It is an excellent paper, check out his website!
leonardo-barreto.com
Ph.D. candidate in Economics, University of Minnesota.
Why did U.S. Consumer Sentiment Index fall as unemployment and inflation returned to normal 2023-24? @UMN_Econ JMC Leonardo Barreto @Leo_BarretoV builds calibrated dynamic general equilibrium model with rich consumer heterogeneity to answer the question. https://t.co/VZY3Oqw3l5
0
2
7
Check out the job market paper of @mtbalestrini! Teresa is a great friend and is a UMN JMC this year. In her paper she highlights the importance of fiscal conditionality attached to IMF-supported restructurings. Any department would be lucky to have Teresa!
How does IMF intervention after sovereign default help debtor country? @UMN_Econ JMC Teresa Balestrini @mtbalestrini evaluates differences post default for countries that restructure within IMF program versus those that directly negotiate with creditors. https://t.co/tuDcjB22Pv
0
2
10
Carlos is presenting his JMP on December 14 at the IMIM Rising Stars Seminar Series, the zoom link to watch his presentation can be found here: https://t.co/S0pWop3XjR
sites.google.com
UPCOMING SEMINARS Fall 2025 IMIM NO. 76 Stephanie Schmitt-Grohe (Columbia University) Transitory and Permanent Import Tariff Shocks in the United States: An Empirical Investigation Discussant: Daniel...
Carlos is an outstanding economist and great friend, check out his job market paper!
0
0
0
Scott is a JMC at UMN this year. His JMP shows how bad land institutions make droughts far more damaging, using rich Indian data and a structural model to reveal how rental barriers worsen misallocation. Check him out 👇
Why is agricultural productivity in India so low? @UMN_Econ JMC Scott Sommers @scott_sommers56 argues weather shocks magnify land market restrictions as source of misallocation in agriculture. He uses micro data to build model of heterogeneous farmers. https://t.co/GPr4FM1oJl
0
3
10
@scott_sommers56 We used to watch @GopherHockey games together—especially the 2023 Big Ten Final vs. Michigan. We were losing our minds the whole game. 🏒🔥 Scott is thoughtful, supportive, and just genuinely good to be around. It'd be lucky to have someone with both his talent and character!
0
1
2
🚨 Job Market Highlight! My friend @scott_sommers56 is on the econ job market this year, and his JMP tackles an increasingly urgent issue: how climate risk amplifies land misallocation in developing economies. 🌾🔥
Why is agricultural productivity in India so low? @UMN_Econ JMC Scott Sommers @scott_sommers56 argues weather shocks magnify land market restrictions as source of misallocation in agriculture. He uses micro data to build model of heterogeneous farmers. https://t.co/GPr4FM1oJl
2
2
10
I met @mtbalestrini while visiting Minnesota two years ago. Beyond being a brilliant economist, she’s incredibly friendly and always willing to help. Her work in macro & international eco, especially on sovereign debt and fiscal policy, is rigorous, and highly relevant.
How does IMF intervention after sovereign default help debtor country? @UMN_Econ JMC Teresa Balestrini @mtbalestrini evaluates differences post default for countries that restructure within IMF program versus those that directly negotiate with creditors. https://t.co/tuDcjB22Pv
0
1
3
Check out Leonardo Barreto’s important work! https://t.co/pGwW33nAVI Debt financed fiscal stimulus during COVID helped the poor—stimulus checks and the rich—PPP subsidies. Also produced efficiency gains (inflation taxes foreign debt holders+transfers complete financial mkts)
leonardo-barreto.com
Ph.D. candidate in Economics, University of Minnesota.
Why did U.S. Consumer Sentiment Index fall as unemployment and inflation returned to normal 2023-24? @UMN_Econ JMC Leonardo Barreto @Leo_BarretoV builds calibrated dynamic general equilibrium model with rich consumer heterogeneity to answer the question. https://t.co/VZY3Oqw3l5
1
5
23
@julipuligamboa is on the job market this year — an absolute standout! Already has an R&R at JIE, and her JMP delivers fresh evidence + a sharp model on when sovereign borrowing boosts (or hurts) welfare. A rising star!🌟🌟🌟
Should IMF limit foreign borrowing by governments of developing nations? @UMN_Econ JMC Juliana Gamboa-Arbelaez @julipuligamboa argues any such restrictions need to depend on conditions in the country and how the government spends borrowed funds. https://t.co/iVJ85CphNF
0
3
8
It was great to find Carlos again at the Workshop on Dynamic Macroeconomics in Vigo last summer. His JMP on how uncertainty reshapes global production networks is truly interesting. Beyond being an amazing economist, he’s also a great person to be around.
How do global value chains evolve over time? @UMN_Econ JMC Carlos Bolivar analyzes how firms change intermediate input suppliers in 43-country, 56-industry world trade model with changing transportation costs and stochastic country-industry productivity. https://t.co/ofdxWJGBo6
0
2
6
Carlos Bolivar is on the market with a super interesting and timely paper on how aggregate shocks shape global value chains at the micro level. Check his website for his many other papers and see how great of an economist he is. He is also a really kind, welcoming and fun person!
How do global value chains evolve over time? @UMN_Econ JMC Carlos Bolivar analyzes how firms change intermediate input suppliers in 43-country, 56-industry world trade model with changing transportation costs and stochastic country-industry productivity. https://t.co/ofdxWJGBo6
0
2
7
Clara is right: Juliana write a great job market paper, but she has a LOT of other excellent papers.
Another great JM candidate from Tim and Manuel's workshop! Check out @julipuligamboa's JMP: she combines empirical evidence with economic modeling to study how external borrowing shapes public and private investment in developing countries. And don't miss her other great papers!
1
2
8
How does IMF intervention after sovereign default help debtor country? @UMN_Econ JMC Teresa Balestrini @mtbalestrini evaluates differences post default for countries that restructure within IMF program versus those that directly negotiate with creditors. https://t.co/tuDcjB22Pv
teresabalestrini.com
Welcome! I am a PhD candidate in Economics at the University of Minnesota and will be on the 2025-2026 job market. My fields of interest are Macroeconomics and International Economics, with a focus...
2
21
49
@Leo_BarretoV answers a very interesting question in his JMP: Why did U.S. Consumer Sentiment Index fall as unemployment and inflation returned to normal in 2023-24? Look out for him in the market: I know he will make an amazing colleague, always kind and fun to be around!
Why did U.S. Consumer Sentiment Index fall as unemployment and inflation returned to normal 2023-24? @UMN_Econ JMC Leonardo Barreto @Leo_BarretoV builds calibrated dynamic general equilibrium model with rich consumer heterogeneity to answer the question. https://t.co/VZY3Oqw3l5
0
2
10
In 2023-24 we economists always talked about why Consumer Sentiment Index was down when inflation and unemployment were falling. Some now-disgraced economist claimed it was high interest rates. Leonardo provides a more convincing answer.
@Leo_BarretoV answers a very interesting question in his JMP: Why did U.S. Consumer Sentiment Index fall as unemployment and inflation returned to normal in 2023-24? Look out for him in the market: I know he will make an amazing colleague, always kind and fun to be around!
0
2
10
Another great JM candidate from Tim and Manuel's workshop! Check out @julipuligamboa's JMP: she combines empirical evidence with economic modeling to study how external borrowing shapes public and private investment in developing countries. And don't miss her other great papers!
Should IMF limit foreign borrowing by governments of developing nations? @UMN_Econ JMC Juliana Gamboa-Arbelaez @julipuligamboa argues any such restrictions need to depend on conditions in the country and how the government spends borrowed funds. https://t.co/iVJ85CphNF
0
2
10
My good friend @Leo_BarretoV is on the job market this year. His JMP tackles a major puzzle: why U.S. consumer sentiment stayed depressed in the post-pandemic years despite low unemployment and inflation. It is an excellent paper, check out his website!
leonardo-barreto.com
Ph.D. candidate in Economics, University of Minnesota.
Why did U.S. Consumer Sentiment Index fall as unemployment and inflation returned to normal 2023-24? @UMN_Econ JMC Leonardo Barreto @Leo_BarretoV builds calibrated dynamic general equilibrium model with rich consumer heterogeneity to answer the question. https://t.co/VZY3Oqw3l5
0
2
7
@scott_sommers56 works at the intersection of international macro, development, and trade. His JMP studies the effect of weather-related risk on land misallocation. Beyond being a strong economist, he’s genuinely fun and great to be around.
Why is agricultural productivity in India so low? @UMN_Econ JMC Scott Sommers @scott_sommers56 argues weather shocks magnify land market restrictions as source of misallocation in agriculture. He uses micro data to build model of heterogeneous farmers. https://t.co/GPr4FM1oJl
0
2
6