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Ola Olsson

Ola Olsson

@oolsson.bsky.social

610 followers 360 following 63 posts

Professor of Economics and HoD at University of Gothenburg
Economic growth, development economics and economic history.
Author of "Paleoeconomics: Climate Change and Economic Development in Prehistory”
https://sites.google.com/site/econolaols/home .. more

Economics 50%

Political science 17%

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Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · Nov 20

My book "Paleoeconomics" is now available in online book stores. It offers a chronologically structured overview of the economics of prehistory from the first hominins to the rise of states in 3500 BCE. It builds on rapidly growing research in several fields. 1/6 link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

This accessible and insightful textbook Paleoeconomics provides a comprehensive introduction to the economics of prehistory.

link.springer.com

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · 20d

Historical legacies do matter — but not all the time.
Their influence is conditional, showing up when scientific guidance is limited and policymakers fall back on ingrained intuitions. This has implications far beyond pandemics — for crisis policy, risk governance, and cultural persistence.

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · 20d

Using weekly data (2020–2022) for:
182 countries worldwide and all US states, our study finds that:
- High‑exposure regions reacted more strongly to new COVID deaths in 2020
- The pattern holds within the United States
- The effect fades in 2021–2022, when knowledge and vaccines reduced uncertainty

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · 20d

These “behavioral immune system” responses lie dormant in normal times — but they are activated during crises with fundamental uncertainty.

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · 20d

The study shows that long‑run disease environments shape:
- intuitive reactions to health threats
- collective anxiety and support for protective measures
- governments’ willingness to impose strict containment policies

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · 20d

Countries and US states with higher historical disease exposure responded more strongly to rising COVID deaths, especially in 2020, when:
- the virus was new
- models were unreliable
- vaccines did not yet exist
Once vaccines arrived and uncertainty declined, this historical effect disappeared.

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · 20d

Why did COVID policies differ so much across countries?
In this article with @econannika.bsky.social, recently published in J Comp Econ, we find that deep historical exposure to infectious disease shaped how governments reacted to COVID‑19, but only during 2020.
authors.elsevier.com/a/1mTcY_3Mo1...

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All content on this site: Copyright © 2026 Elsevier B.V., its licensors, and contributors. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies. For all open access content, the relevant licensing terms apply.

authors.elsevier.com

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · Nov 22

It was a great pleasure to host and listen to so many great presenters at this year’s ASWEDE outside Gothenburg. Already looking forward to next year in Stockholm!

Association of Swedish Development Economists @aswede.bsky.social · Nov 19

Superb research and engagement at ASWEDE's 10th conference. Thanks to everyone who made this event memorable! #ASWEDE2025

Reposted by Ola Olsson

Association of Swedish Development Economists @aswede.bsky.social · Nov 19

Superb research and engagement at ASWEDE's 10th conference. Thanks to everyone who made this event memorable! #ASWEDE2025

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · Oct 27

We are very excited about the new research opportunities that this VR funding opens up for the department.

Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg @gothenburg-econ.bsky.social · Oct 24

The research project ATLASS receives VR infrastructure funding through SwedPop! 🎉

Using machine learning, ATLASS will digitize Swedish school archives to enable new research on education and inequality.

👉Read more: shorturl.at/EvrTj

Picture from one of the school records that ATLASS works with

Reposted by Ola Olsson

Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg @gothenburg-econ.bsky.social · Oct 24

The research project ATLASS receives VR infrastructure funding through SwedPop! 🎉

Using machine learning, ATLASS will digitize Swedish school archives to enable new research on education and inequality.

👉Read more: shorturl.at/EvrTj

Picture from one of the school records that ATLASS works with

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · Oct 13

Kul att långsiktig ekonomisk tillväxt blir föremål för ännu ett Nobelpris! I artikeln nedan kommenterar mina kollegor och jag pristagarnas bidrag.
www.gu.se/nyheter/uppt...

Upptäckter av drivkrafter för ekonomisk tillväxt prisas

Aldrig tidigare har människan upplevt en så lång period av ihållande ekonomisk tillväxt som under de senaste tvåhundra åren. Årets ekonomipristagare Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion och Peter Howitt har ge...

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · Sep 29

Väldigt glad för denna fina recension av min bok Paleoeconomics i @ekonomiskdebatt.bsky.social !

www.nationalekonomi.se/artikel/pale...

Paleoekonomi - Nationalekonomiska Föreningen

Recension av Ola Olsson: Paleoeconomics, Palgrave Macmillan, 2024, 351 sidor, ISBN 978-3-031-52783-8.

www.nationalekonomi.se

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · Aug 5

Will we be able to trust key economic data from the US again?

The America We Knew Is Rapidly Slipping Away www.nytimes.com/2025/08/04/o...

Opinion | The America We Knew Is Rapidly Slipping Away

www.nytimes.com

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · Jul 30

Just presented my paper on weather shocks and monument construction during the Classic Maya period at the WEHC in Lund. Happy for the great lineup of very interesting papers and presenters and for the turnout. Also thrilled to find my book in the book exhibition!

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · Jul 28

Jag kommenterar handelsavtalet mellan EU-USA i dagens Di. Jag tycker att EU vek ned sig alldeles för lätt. Inget hindrar Trump från att kräva ännu mer senare. Att ensidigt acceptera 15% tullar är orimligt.
dise.page.link?link=https:/...

Professor kritisk: EU borde ha trappat upp – ”har mer muskler”

EU-kommissionens ordförande Ursula von der Leyen borde ha satt hårt mot hårt i förhandlingarna med USA:s president Donald Trump. Det är mycket som står på spel – en hel världsordning – varnar Ola Olss...

Reposted by Ola Olsson, Randi Hjalmarsson

Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg @gothenburg-econ.bsky.social · Nov 20

We're very excited to introduce three candidates on the #econjobmarket this year! Meet Vorada Limjaroenrat, Jimmy Karlsson, and Jens Ewald, and read their job market papers here: gu.se/en/school-bu...
#econsky #econjmp #econ #jmp
@jensewald.bsky.social @jimmykarlsson.bsky.social

Three job market candidates at the Department of Economics at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

Reposted by Ola Olsson, Randi Hjalmarsson

Jimmy Karlsson @jimmykarlsson.bsky.social · Nov 25

Hello #EconSky I’m a PhD Candidate from Gothenburg University on the academic market this year. My research covers environmental and labor economics, and my #EconJMP studies the effect of a carbon tax reform on firms and labor market inequality in Sweden.

More info on my website: jimmykarlsson.com

Title page of “Climate Policy and Labor Market Inequality”.

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · Jul 13

I was interviewed a short time ago in Javier’s excellent EPH Podcast about my book Paleoeconomics. I hope you enjoy listening to it.
www.linkedin.com/posts/javier...

🌍 New season of the EPH Podcast! | Javier Mejia Cubillos

🌍 New season of the EPH Podcast! In this episode, I talk with Ola Olsson about the economics of the Paleolithic and Neolithic. How did a small species of hominids conquer the world? What challenges ...

www.linkedin.com

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · Jul 12

EU should of course respond with tariffs in line with the measures agreed on in April. Time to take a break from the flattery that EU leaders have tried in different fora and show resolve.

Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu · Jul 12

A 30% tariff on EU exports would hurt businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.

We will continue working towards an agreement by August 1.

At the same time, we are ready to safeguard EU interests on the basis of proportionate countermeasures.

→ europa.eu/!tPvKn8

Reposted by Robert Wolfe, Ola Olsson

Ursula von der Leyen @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu · Jul 12

A 30% tariff on EU exports would hurt businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.

We will continue working towards an agreement by August 1.

At the same time, we are ready to safeguard EU interests on the basis of proportionate countermeasures.

→ europa.eu/!tPvKn8

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · Jul 2

Kommenterar senatens behandling av Trumps budget Dagens ETC.

Dagens ETC @etc.se · Jul 2

Donald Trumps heliga skattesänkningspaket "One big, beautiful bill" har röstats igenom i senaten.

Trump nära stor skatteseger – som kan kosta 50 000 liv per år

Farhågan: skenande statsskuld, rika blir rikare och fattiga mister skyddsnät.

Reposted by Ola Olsson

Dagens ETC @etc.se · Jul 2

Donald Trumps heliga skattesänkningspaket "One big, beautiful bill" har röstats igenom i senaten.

Trump nära stor skatteseger – som kan kosta 50 000 liv per år

Farhågan: skenande statsskuld, rika blir rikare och fattiga mister skyddsnät.

Reposted by Ola Olsson

The Review of Economic Studies (REStud) @reveconstudies.bsky.social · Jun 23

Recently accepted to #REStud, "Surviving Childhood: Effects of Removing a Child From Home," from Ronja Helénsdotter
@rhelensdotter.bsky.social @MIT @econGU:

www.restud.com/surviving-ch...

#econsky

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · Jun 14

efn.se/usas-akademi...

Akademisk kris i USA – Sverige måste agera nu

Den akademiska friheten är under press i USA. Det öppnar upp för svenska universitet att rekrytera forskare och öka vår internationella status som forskarnation. Handelshögskolans rektor varnar: ”De a...

Reposted by Ola Olsson

Environment for Development (EfD) @efdinitiative.bsky.social · Jun 10

This week, the PhD students who have divided their time between Addis Ababa University and the University of Gothenburg present their theses to their peers and supervisors before finalizing them. Excellent work!
#addisababauniversity #universityofgothenburg #EnvironmentalEconomics #phdstudent #PhD

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · Jun 11

There are of course numerous lessons from recent history about what Trump’s handling of the unrest in LA might lead to. The most worrying is probably ”Crackdowns can be steppingstones to wider power grabs.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/w...

3 Lessons From International Protests Amid Unrest in L.A.

Experts who study protest movements say the scenes unfolding in California broadly follow a script that has played out many times in other countries — sometimes with deadly consequences.

www.nytimes.com

Reposted by Ola Olsson

Department of Economics, University of Gothenburg @gothenburg-econ.bsky.social · Jun 1

Our frequent guest and affiliated colleague Martin Berg Karlsson @drdemant.bsky.social has co-authored a paper on German health insurance that is forthcoming in @jpolecon.bsky.social. Congratulations! doi.org/10.1086/734781

University of Chicago Press Journals: Cookie absent

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · May 30

An illustration of how the Trump administration’s counterproductive tariffs hurt even the manufacturing of Swedish cars in the US.

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · May 30

Volvo suspends production at SC plant citing parts shortages scdailygazette.com/2025/05/30/v...

Volvo suspends production at SC plant citing parts shortages • SC Daily Gazette

Volvo Cars has halted production at its Lowcountry plant because of a parts shortage. It's unclear which parts are involved.

scdailygazette.com

Reposted by Ola Olsson

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · May 30

Volvo suspends production at SC plant citing parts shortages scdailygazette.com/2025/05/30/v...

Volvo suspends production at SC plant citing parts shortages • SC Daily Gazette

Volvo Cars has halted production at its Lowcountry plant because of a parts shortage. It's unclear which parts are involved.

scdailygazette.com

Ola Olsson @oolsson.bsky.social · May 30

Our results show that while extreme Nile floods result in a greater degree of political instability (ruler and dynastic tenure durations), periods with a greater rainfall in the hinterland cause a decline in state capacity and a delayed increase in political instability.