Uditi Karna

PhD student @Columbia_Econ. Former pre-doc @BeckerFriedman. @UChicago ‘20. 🇳🇵🇺🇸

[John A. List @Econ_4_Everyone]

Today I presented some of our recent first-gen research to a group of educators. The finding that surprised the audience the most?
Family income and school quality together explain only about one-third of the gap. The remaining two-thirds point to something deeper: parental human capital channels that operate beyond income, likely through information, guidance, and the navigational knowledge that college-educated parents transmit to their children.

We also find that some teachers have a genuine comparative advantage in helping first-gen students reach excellence, which has real implications for how we think about teacher assignment. The bottom line for policymakers: if we wait until college access interventions to address first-gen disadvantage, we've already lost most of the game. These gaps emerge early, compound over time, and demand comprehensive support starting in elementary school.

The study is available for free download here: https://t.co/Bo3iwj7qsY

[John A. List @Econ_4_Everyone]

The @nberpubs has just published our work on first-gen college grads and the educational implications of being first-gen.

For me, being first-gen meant that autodidactic learning was the essential ingredient for surviving in school. I suspect that for many of us, this trait evolves into a lifelong superpower.

[Behavior Change for Good Initiative @BehaviorChange]

A new @Nature paper by Team Scientist @Econ_4_Everyone and co-authors explores the “racial excellence gap”—the disparity in top academic achievement between Black and Hispanic students and their white and Asian peers. The study finds these gaps emerge by 3rd grade, widen over time, and persist despite policy interventions: https://t.co/jwyVpsekwd

[The University of Chicago @UChicago]

Prof. John List has been appointed director of UChicago’s world-renowned Becker Friedman Institute for Economics. Learn more about List and his field-defining research: https://t.co/3CcaaaDPyu

[Uditi Karna @uditikarna]

@Econ_4_Everyone The background of this cover looks really interesting!!

[Uditi Karna @uditikarna]

Excited to share our new study in @Nature!!!

[John A. List @Econ_4_Everyone]

Our new study on the racial excellence gap just came out in @Nature! We find significant racial educational disparities over time in the deep right tail of the achievement distribution. We introduce that as the racial excellence gap and examine its causes. We find that socio-economic status explains one-third of the racial disparity in top academic achievement while school factors only explain about 1/10th.

@uditikarna @mslee913 @haruka__uchida
& Andrew Simon were wonderful coauthors. The always excellent Nature editor @meharpist was her usual superb self in making the work better. Study is available here:
https://t.co/buUiLtF5ox

[Uditi Karna @uditikarna]

@Isa_DiFilippo So proud of you @Isa_DiFilippo !!

[Uditi Karna @uditikarna]

@Econ_4_Everyone @andrewrsimon @haruka__uchida @Nature @rekhamkarna @KarnaUpendra @Econ_4_Everyone making parents cry left and right!

[John A. List @Econ_4_Everyone]

I can think of few things more satisfying than what I was able to just do—let @uditikarna @andrewrsimon and @haruka__uchida know that our @Nature paper on the excellence gap was just accepted!

We even had a few parents on the line! @rekhamkarna and @KarnaUpendra and the Uchida’s (@naoshigeuchida)
from the famous Uchida and Warabe-Uchida lab @Harvard

@meharpist was her usual brilliant self in handling the paper. She better be careful, as soon this type of editing will become the Nature norm rather than the exception! Future editors might not appreciate the high bar she is setting!

[Richard H Thaler @R_Thaler]

I do not know any economist who thinks Trump would be a good President, or who thinks he would be good for the economy. And of course, tariffs are not paid by other countries! Fellow laureates agree: https://t.co/orjNQzzIsm

[Robert Metcalfe @RDMetcalfe]

The secret is out: Beginning this summer, I will be joining @Columbia as the endowed Professor of Energy Policy at @ColumbiaSIPA.

I’m eager to collaborate with the brilliant minds at Columbia and contribute to our shared mission of driving informed policy change.

I am beyond grateful for this opportunity, and for everyone who has supported me on the journey here. Let’s continue the good work together!

[Chris Hayes @chrislhayes]

I feel like I'm losing my mind a little: people understand that "occupying buildings on campus" is, like, one of the most common forms of studen protest for decades and not some devious new ploy devised by professional anarchist plotters, right?

[Omar Jimenez @OmarJimenez]

Columbia University faculty have linked arms at the entrance of the encampment as the 2p deadline passes for students to vacate or face suspension.

[Maira @mairaka]

BREAKING: University of Chicago students join nationwide protest by setting up encampment in solidarity with Gaza. The camp is called UChicago Popular University for Gaza, located on main quad.

[The University of Chicago @UChicago]

Prof. John List (@Econ_4_Everyone) has been named the speaker for UChicago's Convocation ceremony on June 1. A renowned behavioral economist, List said he's "deeply humbled" to address the Class of 2024. Learn more: https://t.co/ZYXCAWR9dP

[The Nobel Prize @NobelPrize]

BREAKING NEWS
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has decided to award the 2023 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel to Claudia Goldin “for having advanced our understanding of women’s labour market outcomes.”

#NobelPrize

[John A. List @Econ_4_Everyone]

What a wonderful group of field experimenters! The AFE is in its full glory as these conference goers besiege our UChicago Econ home!

Scientifically, everyone knocking it out of the park, including our 3 fascinating keynotes, @I_Am_NickBloom @UriGneezy @S_Stantcheva

[Uditi Karna @uditikarna]

@RohenShah Congratulations Rohen!!!

[Uditi Karna @uditikarna]

Thank you for the best 3 years @Econ_4_Everyone 💛

[John A. List @Econ_4_Everyone]

We had our end of summer bowling party (and farewell to @uditikarna last night) for my @UChi_Economics team. She will change the world for sure, as will the wonderful students in this picture. A Huge Huge thanks everyone!

[Becker Friedman Institute for Economics @BeckerFriedman]

Congratulations to BFI pre-doctoral researchers Dylan Baker, Terry II Culpepper, and @uditikarna who have been recognized by the NSF!

Read more about the prestigious recognition: https://t.co/NchnJlbY3X