The New Faces of Optimized Motherhood
It was only a brief reference. But the singular mention of Emily Oster, the immensely popular parenting guru and economics professor, in a New York Times editorial was enough to kick off a small scandal. “Pretty disappointed that @ProfEmilyOster would choose to lend her credibility to prediction markets (which are, in practice, sportsbooks with a […]
Emily Oster, a well-known parenting expert and economics professor, recently sparked controversy when she appeared at a breakfast event hosted by Kalshi, a leading prediction market platform valued at approximately $40 billion. The event drew criticism, with senior fellow Elliot Haspel stating that Oster's involvement lent credibility to the gambling-like platform, especially given the potential harm it could bring to children and parents.
Oster clarified that she was merely moderating a conversation on prediction markets at the event, which was paid for by Kalshi. While some may find this arrangement acceptable, the appearance raises concerns about Oster's role as a trusted parenting voice endorsing a platform that has faced accusations of illegal gambling and hinders the necessary protections for underage users.
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