Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social
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
Economic growth, development economics and economic history.
Author of "Paleoeconomics: Climate Change and Economic Development in Prehistory”
https://sites.google.com/site/econolaols/home
Pinned
Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social
· Nov 20
Paleoeconomics
This accessible and insightful textbook Paleoeconomics provides a comprehensive introduction to the economics of prehistory.
link.springer.com
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...
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!
Superb research and engagement at ASWEDE's 10th conference. Thanks to everyone who made this event memorable! #ASWEDE2025
November 22, 2025 at 7:22 PM
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!
We are very excited about the new research opportunities that this VR funding opens up for the department.
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
Using machine learning, ATLASS will digitize Swedish school archives to enable new research on education and inequality.
👉Read more: shorturl.at/EvrTj
October 27, 2025 at 9:46 AM
We are very excited about the new research opportunities that this VR funding opens up for the department.
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...
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...
www.gu.se
October 13, 2025 at 3:04 PM
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...
www.gu.se/nyheter/uppt...
Väldigt glad för denna fina recension av min bok Paleoeconomics i @ekonomiskdebatt.bsky.social !
www.nationalekonomi.se/artikel/pale...
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
September 29, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Väldigt glad för denna fina recension av min bok Paleoeconomics i @ekonomiskdebatt.bsky.social !
www.nationalekonomi.se/artikel/pale...
www.nationalekonomi.se/artikel/pale...
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...
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
August 5, 2025 at 6:06 AM
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...
The America We Knew Is Rapidly Slipping Away www.nytimes.com/2025/08/04/o...
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!
July 30, 2025 at 10:31 AM
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!
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:/...
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...
dise.page.link
July 28, 2025 at 9:54 AM
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:/...
dise.page.link?link=https:/...
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...
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
July 13, 2025 at 9:35 PM
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...
www.linkedin.com/posts/javier...
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.
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
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
July 12, 2025 at 2:06 PM
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.
Kommenterar senatens behandling av Trumps budget Dagens ETC.
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.
www.etc.se
July 2, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Kommenterar senatens behandling av Trumps budget Dagens ETC.
Reposted by Ola Olsson
Congratulations to @rhelensdotter.bsky.social !
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
@rhelensdotter.bsky.social @MIT @econGU:
www.restud.com/surviving-ch...
#econsky
July 1, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Congratulations to @rhelensdotter.bsky.social !
Reposted by Ola Olsson
Several members of faculty in the development group @gothenburg-econ.bsky.social have taken part in this nice collaboration as supervisors. We thank our Ethiopian friends for their visit and hope for fruitful research interaction in the future.
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
#addisababauniversity #universityofgothenburg #EnvironmentalEconomics #phdstudent #PhD
June 12, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Several members of faculty in the development group @gothenburg-econ.bsky.social have taken part in this nice collaboration as supervisors. We thank our Ethiopian friends for their visit and hope for fruitful research interaction in the future.
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...
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
June 11, 2025 at 7:02 AM
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...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/w...
Reposted by Ola Olsson
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
doi.org
June 1, 2025 at 1:49 PM
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
An illustration of how the Trump administration’s counterproductive tariffs hurt even the manufacturing of Swedish cars in the US.
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
May 30, 2025 at 7:48 PM
An illustration of how the Trump administration’s counterproductive tariffs hurt even the manufacturing of Swedish cars in the US.
My paper with Laura Mayoral on the political impact of floods and droughts in Ancient Egypt, is now assigned to an issue of JEconGrowth. We provide evidence of a "dynamic circumscription model" where Egypt was sometimes like a "social cage" where rulers could easily dominate.
rdcu.be/eoDL5
rdcu.be/eoDL5
Floods, droughts, and environmental circumscription in early state development: the case of ancient Egypt
rdcu.be
May 30, 2025 at 10:44 AM
My paper with Laura Mayoral on the political impact of floods and droughts in Ancient Egypt, is now assigned to an issue of JEconGrowth. We provide evidence of a "dynamic circumscription model" where Egypt was sometimes like a "social cage" where rulers could easily dominate.
rdcu.be/eoDL5
rdcu.be/eoDL5
Reposted by Ola Olsson
We were very happy to host Nobel laureate Claudia Goldin today during seminars and an important keynote lecture. Thanks to all 700 participants irl and online for attending!
www.gu.se/en/event/cla...
www.gu.se/en/event/cla...
Claudia Goldin: Why Women Won
Join the 2025 edition of the Tore Browaldh Lecture, where Nobel Laureate and Harvard Professor Claudia Goldin talks about women's societal and economical changes and impact.
www.gu.se
May 27, 2025 at 8:14 PM
We were very happy to host Nobel laureate Claudia Goldin today during seminars and an important keynote lecture. Thanks to all 700 participants irl and online for attending!
www.gu.se/en/event/cla...
www.gu.se/en/event/cla...
Such an incredibly well deserved PL title!!!
April 27, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Such an incredibly well deserved PL title!!!
So true. But it also comes with a responsibility to be better at defending our freedom.
economist.com/europe/2025/...
economist.com/europe/2025/...
The thing about Europe: it’s the actual land of the free now
Europe’s very real problems don’t look so bad by comparison
economist.com
April 18, 2025 at 10:58 AM
So true. But it also comes with a responsibility to be better at defending our freedom.
economist.com/europe/2025/...
economist.com/europe/2025/...
Good to see that Harvard takes the lead in this important fight for academic freedom.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/u...
Trump’s Threats Force Powerful Institutions to Choose: Cut a Deal or Resist
In a hint of a shift in strategy, some of the country’s most powerful institutions have started choosing to resist.
www.nytimes.com
April 17, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Good to see that Harvard takes the lead in this important fight for academic freedom.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/16/u...
Yet another interview with me on the political economy of Trump’s tariff circus (in Swedish).
www.dn.se/ekonomi/expe...
www.dn.se/ekonomi/expe...
Expert: ”Trump lär ha en mycket svagare förhandlingsposition”
USA har undantagit elektronik från de höjda tullarna. Därmed slipper en knapp fjärdedel av Kinas export till USA de amerikanska 125-
www.dn.se
April 13, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Yet another interview with me on the political economy of Trump’s tariff circus (in Swedish).
www.dn.se/ekonomi/expe...
www.dn.se/ekonomi/expe...
Interview about the crisis in Affärsvärlden (in Swedish).
www.affarsvarlden.se/artikel/ekon...
www.affarsvarlden.se/artikel/ekon...
Ekonomiprofessorn: ”En självförvållad Trump-kris som är helt vansinnig” | Affärsvärlden
Förtroendet för USA är skadat och att göra affärer med landet kommer att vara för riskabelt. Det hävdar ekonomiprofessorn Ola Olsson. ”Det kommer att bli svårt att lita på regimen”, säger han till Affärsvärlden.
www.affarsvarlden.se
April 8, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Interview about the crisis in Affärsvärlden (in Swedish).
www.affarsvarlden.se/artikel/ekon...
www.affarsvarlden.se/artikel/ekon...
In particular, why did so many seemingly well-informed finance guys delude themselves to this extent?
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/o...
Opinion | Why Did Wall Street Get Trump So Wrong?
Wall Street mistook demagogy for wisdom.
www.nytimes.com
April 8, 2025 at 5:27 AM
In particular, why did so many seemingly well-informed finance guys delude themselves to this extent?
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/07/o...
