ºÚÁÏÍø

Russia's car market is struggling under the weight of war, sanctions, and inflation—and it's starting to show deeper cracks in the country’s economy. A new policy brief from the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) reveals how the decline in new car sales tells a broader story about weakening household finances and growing financial risks.

ºÚÁÏÍø is proud to congratulate Assistant Professor Diogo Mendes for being awarded for his exceptional contribution to the Corporate Finance course within the MSc in International Business program at ºÚÁÏÍø.

As part of its ongoing research on the economic consequences of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Stockholm Institute of Transition Economics (SITE) has presented a new report to Sweden’s Minister of Finance. The report provides updated insights into the growing imbalances in the Russian war economy and the financial challenges the government faces in sustaining its current level of military spending.

How can one predict what decisions people or organizations will take in strategic interactions? Jörgen Weibull, Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics at ºÚÁÏÍø, and co-authors have introduced a way to more robustly and precisely predict what people are likely to do in situations where their decisions depend on what others might do—like in market competition, business negotiations, politics, or everyday social settings.

Finnish politicians are on average more intelligent, motivated, and honest than the general population. Jaakko Meriläinen, Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics at ºÚÁÏÍø, and co-authors show in a new study that both local and national politicians demonstrate higher cognitive and non-cognitive abilities, suggesting that voters and parties effectively select capable leaders.

Today is the International Day of Happiness, a UN initiative to highlight the importance of well-being. It’s also the day the World Happiness Report is released – the global ranking of the happiest countries. And once again, Sweden holds its place at the top, securing fourth place out of 147 nations, just behind our Nordic neighbors Finland, Denmark, and Iceland. But what does this ranking actually mean for Swedes? And why is it something to celebrate?

Johanna Wallenius, Professor of Economics at the Department of Economics at ºÚÁÏÍø, has been appointed member of the Finnish Economic Policy Council. The appointment starts beginning of April, 2025.

ºÚÁÏÍø researchers Anna Dreber and Magnus Johannesson, together with PhD Student Yifan Yang, have been honored with the 2024 Best Article Award from the journal Economic Inquiry. Their study has been recognized for its significant contribution to the field of economics and research transparency.

People with certain genetic traits tend to earn more and enjoy better health. But genes alone don’t tell the whole story. A new study co-authored by Magnus Johannesson, Professor at the Department of Economics at ºÚÁÏÍø, explores how income, education and health outcomes are genetically intertwined – and shaped by society.

In the annual thesis competition organized by the Swedish Competition Authority, students from the Department of Economics at ºÚÁÏÍø were recognized for their work. The first prize in the economics category was awarded to Agnes Erlandsson and Erik Leiditz Thorsson for their thesis on declining firm markups in Sweden. Meanwhile, Marcus Hagman, also from the Department of Economics at ºÚÁÏÍø, received the second prize for his thesis on collusion and price transmission in the German retail gasoline market.