Institute for International Economic Studies

02/09/2026

What drives productivity growth, how should we measure automation, and why does inflation remain persistent?
These are the questions explored in Chek Yin Choi's doctoral thesis, Input Market, Automation, and Inflation: Essays in Macroeconomics.
The thesis finds that:
• Better access to suppliers can increase productivity while also strengthening the position of the most productive firms.
• The way automation is defined has a major impact on conclusions about its labour market effects.
• Firms' decisions about when to adjust prices can help explain why inflation often remains elevated over time.
An interesting contribution to ongoing discussions about productivity, technological change and inflation.
Chek will defend his thesis on September 21.
https://www.su.se/english/divisions/institute-for-international-economic-studies/news/articles/2026-09-02-firms-supplier-choices-technology-investments-and-pricing-decisions-have-economy-wide-effects

28/08/2026

När Sverige drabbades av 1990-talskrisen kallades en expertgrupp under Assar Lindbecks ledning in för att hitta vägen framåt. I en intervju med EFNs Finansmagasinet berättar professor Torsten Persson, en av kommissionens ledamöter, om dramatiken bakom kulisserna och hur dess reformer kom att prägla svensk ekonomisk politik under de följande decennierna.

De räddade oss från krisen • Torsten Persson om arbetet bakom Lindbeckkommissionen

27/08/2026

New CEPR Discussion Paper - DP21872
Immiserizing Automation
Vladimir Asriyan (CREi, Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona, Barcelona School of Economics), Hugo Reichardt (Stockholm University, Institute for International Economic Studies, CREi), Sandro Shelegia (Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Barcelona, Barcelona School of Economics)
https://ow.ly/sFIK50ZELKQ

23/06/2026

Big news 🚨 Newly recruited Associate Professor (and IIES alumnus) Karl Harmenberg is awarded the Vetenskapsrådet / Swedish Research Council prestigious recruitment grant (only one at Stockholm University this year!) and returns to the IIES to tackle a big question: why recessions happen —and how to stop them.

https://www.su.se/english/divisions/institute-for-international-economic-studies/news/articles/2026-06-23-iies-researcher-awarded-prestigious-recruitment-grant-from-the-swedish-research-council

12/06/2026

Congratulations to Juan Llavador Peralt on successfully defending his thesis “Firm Granularity, Growth, and Inflation Persistence: Essays in Macroeconomics”.

His research shows how dominant firms can slow growth—and why inflation persists longer than expected.

Thanks also to opponent Miguel León-Ledesma at University of Exeter Business School for a thorough discussion.

Next up for Juan: Banco de Portugal https://www.su.se/english/divisions/institute-for-international-economic-studies/news/articles/2026-06-12-successful-thesis-defense-for-juan-llavador-peralt

11/06/2026

Big congratulations to Jonatan Riberth on defending his thesis “Essays on Healthcare Demand and Long-run Inequality"!

His research shows how personal experiences shape healthcare choices, and how inequality can persist across generations.

Next up: PostDoc for one year at Research Institute of Industrial Economics (working on a project with Petra Persson and Maya Rossin-Slater at Stanford University). He will then continue as a PostDoc at the Stockholm School of Economics.

A warm thank you to Martin Nybom from Uppsala University for providing a thorough and insightful discussion.

https://www.su.se/english/divisions/institute-for-international-economic-studies/news/articles/2026-06-11-jonatan-riberth-successfully-defends-his-thesis

10/06/2026

What a milestone! Congratulations to Mattias Folkestad on defending his thesis, “Power and Politics: Essays in Applied Microeconomics”!

His work shows how institutions shape participation, efficiency and inequality — from female role models to green policy and education.

A warm thanks to opponent Olle Folke at Uppsala University for a stimulating discussion.

Next stop for Mattias: University of Gothenburg as Wallander Postdoc!

https://www.su.se/english/divisions/institute-for-international-economic-studies/news/articles/2026-06-10-successful-thesis-defense-for-mattias-folkestad

09/06/2026

Huge congratulations to Thore Petersen on defending his thesis “Frictions and Flexibility in Production: Essays in Energy Economics”!
His research shows industry can decarbonize faster and at lower cost than we thought.
Many thanks to opponent and IIES alumnus Conny Olovsson at Sveriges riksbank for a thorough and engaging discussion!

https://www.su.se/english/divisions/institute-for-international-economic-studies/news/articles/2026-06-09-thore-petersen-successfully-defends-his-thesis

09/06/2026

Båda sidor missar poängen i forskarbråket, skriver John Hassler Tessa Bold och Per Krusell vid det nystartade Assar Lindbeck centrum i Dagens Nyheter. Politik handlar inte bara om fakta utan även värderingar.

DN Debatt. John Hassler, Tessa Bold och Per Krusell: Därför räcker inte fakta för politiska beslut – så bör forskare, politiker och medier tänka.

08/06/2026

Congratulations to Jinci Liu on successfully defending her doctoral thesis “Managers, Workers, and Teams: Essays in Organizational and Labor Economics”!
Her work sheds light on how feedback and workplace dynamics shape team performance and productivity.
Jinci will join National University of Singapore as Assistant Professor (after a 2-year postdoc). We look forward to following her next steps!
A warm thank you to Ricardo Perez-Truglia at UCLA Anderson School of Management for a lively and insightful discussion as opponent.
More information:
https://www.su.se/english/divisions/institute-for-international-economic-studies/news/articles/2026-06-08-successful-thesis-defense-for-jinci-liu