Ola Olsson

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

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Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social

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...

link.springer.comPaleoeconomicsThis accessible and insightful textbook Paleoeconomics provides a comprehensive introduction to the economics of prehistory.
Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social

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

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.linkProfessor 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...
Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social

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

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 reposted

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

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.

Environment for Development (EfD)@efdinitiative.bsky.social

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

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...

nytimes.com3 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.
Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social

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

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

scdailygazette.comVolvo suspends production at SC plant citing parts shortages • SC Daily GazetteVolvo Cars has halted production at its Lowcountry plant because of a parts shortage. It's unclear which parts are involved.
Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social

Effective enviromental circumscription was created through an interplay between Nile floods (proxied by rainfall over Highland Ethiopia) and Mediterranean rains that determined the productivity of the hinterland.

Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social

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.

Ola Olsson reposted

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

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...

gu.seClaudia Goldin: Why Women WonJoin 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.
Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social

Such an incredibly well deserved PL title!!!

The Guardian@theguardian.com

Liverpool win record-equalling 20th league title with rout of Tottenham

theguardian.comLiverpool win record-equalling 20th league title with rout of Tottenham* Slot claims Premier League in first season as head coach * 5-1 win over Tottenham seals title with four games left Liverpool have won a record-equalling 20th league title in a stunning debut season for Arne Slot after beating Tottenham 5-1 at Anfield. The 46-year-old, who took on the seemingly unenviable task of succeeding Jürgen Klopp last summer, becomes the first man in Liverpool’s illustrious history to win the championship in his debut season with the club. Anfield was ready to celebrate at kick-off, but there was an early setback when Dominic Solanke unexpectedly headed Spurs in front after 12 minutes. Liverpool hit back quickly, Luis Díaz’s equaliser awarded after a VAR review, before Alexis Mac Allister smashed home in the 23rd minute to put the hosts in front. Cody Gakpo struck from a corner before half-time to leave the outcome all but guaranteed. Continue reading...

Ola Olsson reposted

Justin Wolfers
@justinwolfers.bsky.social

This is remarkably close to what we had six days ago. The average tariff rate of most European nations was about 1%.

Bloomberg News@bloomberg.com

Elon Musk hopes for a “zero-tariff” system between the US and Europe that would effectively create “a free trade zone,” he said on Saturday

bloomberg.comMusk Hopes US, Europe Will Move to Zero-Tariff Free-Trade ZoneElon Musk hopes for a “zero-tariff” system between the US and Europe that would effectively create “a free trade zone,” he said on Saturday, days after levies set by US President Donald Trump sent glo...

Ola Olsson reposted

Dani Rodrik
@drodrik.bsky.social

This is absolutely horrifying. Turkish graduate at Tufts student is picked up and removed to undisclosed destination by ICE, apparently because she wrote a pro-Palestinian oped.

People’s City Council - Los Angeles @pplscitycouncil.bsky.social

RUMEYSA OZTURK KIDNAPPING VIDEO Here is a video of federal agents detaining Tufts University PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk Tuesday night. Rumeysa was abducted as she was heading to meet with friends to break her Ramadan fast.

Ola Olsson reposted

Carl T. Bergstrom
@carlbergstrom.com

1. For the past thirty years I've had the best job in the world. 
I've had the opportunity to follow my curiosity; explore the workings of nature and society; mentor students and junior colleagues in the same process; and teach generations of students about it all.

Ola Olsson reposted

Anne Applebaum
@anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu

"Washington has become the court of Nero, an incendiary emperor, submissive courtiers, and a jester high on ketamine in charge of purging the civil service. This is a tragedy for the free world, but it is first and foremost a tragedy for the United States."

Anne Applebaum@anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu

ICYMI www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmDV...

youtube.comClaude Malhuret, Senator of the French Republic, speaks the truth about what is happening in the USYouTube video by Gregory Mullins
Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social

In this OA book chapter, Pelle and I critically discuss the SDG target 8.1 that the poorest countries should reach at least a 7% growth rate in GDP per capita. After two decades of rapid convergence 2000-2019, there are major challenges ahead. www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-...

taylorfrancis.comSustainable economic growth | 3 | A critical assessment of Target 8.1In this chapter, we focus on Target 8.1, stipulating that countries should pursue real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita growth rates that are in
Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social

Oh yes. And what a shameful day for the country that used to be the leader of the free world.

Kaja Kallas@kajakallas.bsky.social

Ukraine is Europe! We stand by Ukraine. We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the agressor. Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.

Ola Olsson reposted

Daron Acemoglu
@dacemoglumit.bsky.social

Replying to @dacemoglumit.bsky.social

If, as I hope, the US democracy survives and (somehow) recovers, then history books will judge those working with Trump and Republican lawmakers in the Senate and Congress enabling him harshly (and so should we). If US democracy does not survive, I don’t know what history books will be like.

Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social

It was really fun to feature in this episode of the very nice pod ”Our long walk” run by @johanfourieza.bsky.social. Among other research topics, we talk about my recent book Paleoeconomics. Thanks for the opportunity!

Johan Fourie@johanfourieza.bsky.social

How far back should economic history go? Most textbooks start with agriculture, trade, and the emergence of states. But what if we looked further – beyond written records, beyond cities, beyond even the first farms? A wonderful interview with Ola Olsson about the economics of prehistory!

ourlongwalk.comWhy did we stop roaming?EPISODE 8: Jonathan and I speak to Ola Olsson about the economics of prehistory, the environmental roots of state formation and what ancient Egypt can teach us about the ongoing crisis in the Congo...
Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social

Det andra avsnittet i Vetenskapsradion om den fascinerande stenålderskulturen i sydöstra Turkiet för 12000 år sedan. Jag intervjuas i slutet om övergången till jordbrukssamhällen. sverigesradio.se/play/avsnitt...

sverigesradio.seCivilisationens nollpunkt grävs ut - Vetenskapsradion HistoriaI närheten av ikoniska Göbekli Tepe har nu tjugotalet liknande platser börjat grävas ut. Tobias Svanelid besöker några av platserna som tillsammans målar ...
Ola Olsson
@oolsson.bsky.social

Thanks for a wonderful workshop at a fantastic location!

Alexander Moradi@amoradi.bsky.social

🥊 Ready for the 3rd Bolzano Workshop on Historical Economics! From the majestic South Tyrolean Alps, where economics meets history in a knockout bout of ideas. Electrifying debates and brilliant scholars await. The final program is now available—explore the highlights! @essobecker.bsky.social