Research areas

Behavioural economics is a discipline that challenges traditional economic assumptions about how economic agents make their decisions. By integrating insights from psychology and economics, behavioural economics helps to better understand and predict people's economic choices. Ultimately, insights from behavioural economics studies can contribute to more effective economic policies.

Researchers: Ola Andersson, Per Engström

Development economics is a field of economics that analyses the economic factors and processes that affect the growth and welfare of developing countries, various aspects of poverty and the institutional challenges faced by poor countries (e.g. corruption). Development economists also have extensive knowledge of international organisations such as the World Bank, ILO, IMF and aid organisations (such as Sida).

Researcher: Niklas Bengtsson

Economic history studies economic processes and changes over time, focusing on how historical institutions, technological change, and social structures have shaped economic growth and distribution. The field combines economic theory with historical data to understand long-run development patterns.

Researcher: Luca Repetto

Econometrics is a branch of economics that applies statistics, mathematics and economic theory to analyse data and study and quantify economic relationships. It is mainly used to assess the impact of economic policies, predict economic variables and describe general patterns in data. By combining theoretical models with empirical data, econometrics helps economists and policy makers to make more informed decisions and economic forecasts.

Researcher: Fredrik Sävje

Economics of crime is a field within economics that examines the causes of criminal behavior and the effects of crime control policies using economic theory and empirical methods. Central questions include how incentives, socioeconomic conditions, labor market opportunities, and institutions influence crime, as well as how effective different forms of policing, punishment, and prevention are. The field also studies the social and economic costs of crime and how resources can be allocated efficiently to reduce criminal activity.

Researcher: Ulrika Ahrsjö

Economics of education is a field of economics that analyses economic aspects of the education system. It includes the study of the impact of education on individual earnings and economic growth, and how education policies affect both efficiency and equity. Education economics helps to inform policy makers on how to improve the education system and maximise its societal benefits.

Researchers: Niklas Bengtsson, Peter Fredriksson, Helena Svaleryd, Lucas Tilley, Björn Öckert

Economics of migration studies the causes and consequences of migration from an economic perspective. Research addresses why people migrate, how migration affects labor markets, productivity, and public finances, and how migrants integrate into host societies.

Researcher: Olof Åslund

Visit Uppsala Immigration Lab for more research on the economics of migration

Environmental economics is a field of economics that focuses on analysing the economic aspects of environmental issues and natural resource management. It examines how economic incentives and policies can be used to balance the economic development of society with environmental protection and sustainability. Environmental economists study cost-effective ways to address pollution, climate change and other environmental challenges to promote more environmentally friendly and sustainable development.

Researchers: Mikael Elinder, Daniel Spiro, Torben Mideksa, Chuan-Zhong Li

Experimental economics uses controlled experiments to study economic behaviour and test economic theories. Experiments are designed where participants make decisions involving real or hypothetical incentives, making it possible to observe and analyse decisions in controlled environments. Experimental economics provides valuable insights into various economic phenomena and helps us to understand and improve economic models and policies.

Researchers: Fredrik Sävje, Mikael Elinder, Per Engström, Niklas Bengtsson

Family economics is a field of research that focuses on the economic decisions and behaviours of households. It includes studies on how families manage their financial resources, such as income and expenditure, savings and investments. Family economics aims to understand how family dynamics affect economic choices and can be used to develop strategies to improve household well-being.

Researchers: Arizo Karimi, Yoko Okuyama

Financial economics is a field of economics that examines how capital is allocated and valued in financial markets. Financial economics plays a crucial role in understanding the relationship between risk and return and the valuation of financial instruments such as stocks, bonds and financial derivatives.

Researcher: Mikael Bask

Game theory is a field of economics that analyzes strategic decision‑making and interactions between individuals in situations where one person’s choices affect others’ outcomes. It is used to study competition, cooperation, and bargaining in markets, politics, and organizations.

Researcher: Ola Andersson

Gender economics examines how gender shapes economic behavior, outcomes, and resource allocation. Research in the field analyzes gender gaps in wages, employment, career progression, and education, as well as the distribution of unpaid work. A central concern is how socially constructed gender roles, alongside institutions and public policies, influence economic choices and generate inequalities in both opportunities and outcomes — and how such inequalities affect economic efficiency more broadly.

Researchers: Ulrika Ahrsjö, Arizo Karimi, Yoko Okuyama, Lena Hensvik, Lucas Tilley

Health economics is a discipline within economics that studies how health affects individuals, how economic circumstances affect health, and the use of resources in health care. It includes analyses of the cost, efficiency and availability of health services and the evaluation of different interventions. Health economics helps to inform policy makers on how to optimise health care resources to achieve the best possible health of the population in a fair and efficient way.

Researchers: Erik Grönqvist, Eva Mörk, Helena Svaleryd, Mikael Elinder

Visit the Centre for Health Economics Research for more research.

In economics, the field of international trade focuses on analysing the economic factors and effects that occur when countries trade with each other. Research in (international trade) aims to better understand and predict trade patterns, economic development and the global consequences of trade policy and international economic integration. It includes studies on trade agreements, tariffs, exchange rates, and their impact on production, labour market and industrial dynamics and economic growth.

Researcher: Teodora Borota Milicevic

Labour economics is the branch of economics that studies factors affecting employment and wages. It includes analyses of labour supply and demand, wage formation, unemployment, labour mobility and how working life is affected by technological developments. Many studies in this area analyse the effects of various economic policies, such as subsidised jobs, educational initiatives, employment protection and tax systems.

Researchers: Ulrika Ahrsjö, Agneta Berge, Stefan Eriksson, Peter Fredriksson, Georg Graetz, Lena Hensvik, Mounir Karadja, Arizo Karimi, Oskar Nordström Skans, Luca Repetto, Helena Svaleryd, Lucas Tilley, Olof Åslund, Björn Öckert

Visit the Uppsala Center for Labour Studies for more on labour economics.

Macroeconomics is the branch of economics that focuses on analysing the economy as a whole. Here we study short-term fluctuations in aggregate economic variables such as GDP and phenomena such as inflation, unemployment and more long-term phenomena such as economic growth and resource allocation, Macroeconomics aims to understand and learn how to influence the overall economic development for the benefit of society.

Researchers: Mikael Carlsson, Karl Walentin, Teodora Borota Milicevic, Erik Öberg, Georg Graetz, Guillaume Nevo, Agneta Berge

Microeconomic theory is a branch of economics that focuses on studying economic decisions and strategic behaviour at the individual and firm level. It analyses how households and firms make economic decisions, including consumption, production and pricing of goods and services. Microeconomic theory helps to understand strategic decisions, market structures, competition and allocation mechanisms and is fundamental to designing economic policies and understanding the functioning of the market economy.

Researchers: Ola Andersson, Henk Shouten, Daniel Spiro, Torben Mideksa, Chuan-Zhong Li

Political economy aims to highlight how politics and economics interact, which is crucial for understanding economic development, the distribution of wealth and the design of economic policies. This is done by using economic analysis tools to understand how political decisions arise from the interaction between voters, politicians, the media and interest groups. Topics investigated include the role of different electoral systems and other democratic institutions on policy outcomes and ultimately implemented policies, and how the goals of different politicians and voters may conflict.

Researchers: Eva Mörk, Luca Repetto, Mounir Karadja, Daniel Spiro, Yoko Okuyama, Mikael Elinder

Public economics is the area of economics that focuses on the public sector. It discusses why we need a public sector and what tasks should be assigned to it, as well as how the behaviour of the public sector affects individuals, firms and the market. This includes analysing how the social security system, as well as tax and transfer systems are best designed and what effects these have on the behaviour and welfare of individuals.

Researchers: Eva Mörk, Per Engström, Mikael Elinder, Spencer Bastani

Urban economics is a branch of economics that focuses on analysing economic phenomena and decisions specific to cities and urbanised areas. It includes studies on urban planning, property markets, infrastructure investment and urban development. Urban economics aims to understand the economic factors affecting the urban environment and how to optimise resource use and quality of life in cities.

Researcher: Matz Dahlberg

See the Urban Lab research centre for more urban economics research.