Ylva Hasselberg

Present position

Professor of economic history

Research Interests

During the last 15 years I have been working on the comprehensive biography of the Swedish economist and economic historian Eli F. Heckscher. The first part of the book, Vetenskapens karaktär. Eli F. Heckscher 1879-1952, del 1: Oberoende liv, was published 2021. Part two of the book is forthcoming March 2025. I am presently on the verge of starting up two new research projects, 1. The Swedish gift explosion 1942-1951: the rationality and consequences of giving, and 2. Studentpengen – aktörer, nätverk och idéer om effektivitet och kvalitet i svensk universitetsutbildning 1992-1995. Both projects align with my central research interests: the first being family networks and the logic of the gift, and the second being the development of research policy and the modern institution of the university. In the latter area I have also been active in the public debate, although not lately.

For three decades, one of my main interests has been decision-making in science, business and politics in relation to personal networks. I have studied the relationship between economic rationality and personal networks, from what might be termed an anthropological approach, thus developing economic anthropology in a historic setting. My research has resulted in the development of certain theoretical standpoints regarding the concept of networks as a foundation for historical explanation. I have written extensively regarding both negative and positive affects of personal networks, on a societal as well as organisational and individual level.

Since the 2000s, my interest has turned more towards the history and sociology of social science, especially economic history and economics, and towards the driving forces and consequences of changes in research policy. This has resulted in 1. an attempt to combine the traditional analytic focus of economic history on work with perspectives from the sociology of science and professions theory. I have published one volume on the professional identity and work of junior faculty: Vetenskap som arbete. Normer och arbetsorganisation i den kommodifierade vetenskapen (Gidlunds 2012) 2. an intensified focus on the historiography of economic sciences, in order both to understand their role in relation to the development of NPM and the academic capitalism, and to understand the relationship of present-day economic history to these developments and its evolution as a discipline . I have published a monograph on the history of economic history in Sweden 1920—1920: Industrisamhällets förkunnare. Eli Heckscher, Arthur Montgomery, Bertil Boëthius och svensk ekonomisk historia 1920-1950 (Gidlunds 2007) .

I would like to add that I look upon my books as the central works in my academic career, which is why they are pushed to the front here.

Research Projects

2024 The Swedish gift explosion 1942-1951: The rationality and consequences of giving, (Handelsbankens forskningsstiftelser)

2024 Studentpengen – aktörer, nätverk och idéer om effektivitet och kvalitet i svensk universitetsutbildning 1992-1995. (Riksbankens Jubileumsfond)

2017 Housing the academy. Building, location and the development of research and teaching at Swedish universities 1975-2015. (Handelsbankens forskningsstiftelser)

2013 Markets for scientific publication: An economic history. (Handelsbankens forskningsstiftelser).

2009 The character of science. Eli F. Heckscher 1879—1952: an intellectual biography (Handelsbankens Forskningsstiftelser)

2004 Professions, power and the definition of science: the development of Swedish universities 1990-2005 (Torsten and Ragnar Söderbergs stiftelser through the Royal Academy of Science).

2001 Chroniclers of industrialism. Eli Heckscher and the construction of Swedish Economic history 1920—1950 (Swedish Science Council).

2000 Social networks and economic development. Entrepreneurial networks and their influence on patterns of innovation and stagnation in Swedish business 1870-1985 (Tore Browaldhs stiftelse).

2000 Institutional and political conditions for the development of coastal fishing in the Nordic countries (MISTRA).

1999 A comparative history of ideas on safety in road traffic and railway traffic in Sweden 1900—1970 (Banverket and the Swedish Road Administration).

1999 The effects of public subsidies on the level of segregation of the labour market in Dalarna 1994—1998 (County Council of Dalarna).

Teaching experiences and supervision

I have taught both in history and economic history, on the STS Programme, on the Bachelor's Programme in Historical Sciences and on the Master Programme in Social Sciences. I have supervised four doctoral students to the completion of their dissertations, and I am currently supervising two.

Byt bild

Användar-id: ylvahass

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