About
I am a Research Fellow in Economics at the Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN) in Stockholm. In 2025, I was appointed Associate Professor (Docent) in Economics at Stockholm University.
My research is empirically oriented with a focus on labor market economics. I combine modern causal inference methods with unique Swedish register data to address questions of both academic and policy relevance. My work can be broadly divided into two research areas: (1) the effects of different types of firm ownership on employees, including privatization and private equity buyouts, and (2) institutional and structural factors, welfare systems, and labor market outcomes, including employment protection, technological change, and intergenerational mobility.
In addition to publishing in peer-reviewed journals, I disseminate my research through popular science articles, debate pieces, and blog posts, and have contributed policy reports including a background report to the Swedish Corona Commission.
Research
Journal articles
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What is the Cost of Privatizations for Workers?The Journal of Finance, Vol. 80, No. 4, 2107-2151, 2025
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Taxes, Childcare and Gender Identity NormsJournal of Labor Economics, Forthcoming, 2025
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Earnings Losses and the Role of the Welfare State During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from SwedenReview of Income and Wealth, Vol. 70, No. 3, 267–408, 2024
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Talent Development and Labour Market Integration in European FootballThe World Economy, Vol. 44, No. 3, 367–408, 2021
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Are Foreign Private Equity Buyouts Bad for Workers?Economics Letters, Vol. 172, 1–4, 2018
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Private Equity, Layoffs and Job PolarizationJournal of Labor Economics, Vol. 33, No. 3, 697–754, 2017
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Direct and Cross Effects of Employment Protection – The Case of Parental ChildcareScandinavian Journal of Economics, Vol. 119, No. 4, 1105–1128, 2017
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Sickness Insurance and Spousal Labour SupplyLabour Economics, Vol. 33, 41–54, 2015
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Employment Protection and Sickness AbsenceLabour Economics, Vol. 16, No. 2, 208–221, 2009
Book chapters
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From Wall Street to Work Floor: How Private Equity Buyouts Affect WorkersIn B. Broughman & E. de Fontenay (eds.), Research Handbook on the Structure of Private Equity and Venture Capital. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, Forthcoming, 2024
Work in progress
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Pre-AI Sorting, Post-AI Inequality: Generative AI and the Gender Wage GapIFN Working Paper No. 1534. Stockholm: Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN), 2025
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Family Firms: In All Shapes and SizesIFN Working Paper, No. 1461, 2023
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Long-Run Effects of Technological Change: The Impact of Automation and Robots on Intergenerational MobilityIFN Working Paper, No. 1443, 2022
In Swedish
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Hur påverkas företag och anställda av privatiseringEkonomisk Debatt, Vol. 53, No. 4, 21-32, 2025
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Exponering mot generativ AI i Sverige – en kartläggningEkonomisk debatt, Vol. 52, No. 6, 17-32, 2024
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Coronapandemin, arbetsinkomsterna and välfärdssystemets skyddsgrad. Befolkningens inkomstutveckling under 2020Underlagsrapport till SOU 2022:10 Sverige under pandemin. Stockholm: Coronakommissionen, 2022
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Familjeföretagens betydelse för motståndskraften och omställningskraften i näringslivetEkonomisk Debatt, Vol. 50, No. 7, 14–26, 2022
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Turordningsregler – lagstiftning med konsekvenser eller spel för gallerierna?Ekonomisk Debatt, Vol. 3, No. 3, 5–16, 2018
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Påverkar riskkapitalinvesteringar anställda och samhällsekonomin?Ekonomisk Debatt, Vol. 45, No. 8, 26–36, 2017
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Ökar anställningsskyddet sjukfrånvaron?Ekonomisk Debatt, Vol. 35, No. 8, 31–41, 2009
Op-eds
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AI kommer slå hårdast mot kvinnor – och deras lönerDagens Nyheter, September 25, 2025
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Så riskerar AI att öka klyftorna i samhälletDagens Industri, 6 September, 2024
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Dålig konkurrens på den europeiska fotbollsmarknadenDagens Industri, 2 maj, 2021
Blog posts
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Children of Workers Impacted by Automation Are More Likely To Experience Lower Income MobilityChicago Booth, 27 April, 2023
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Economic Incentives, Home Production and Gender Identity NormsVoxEu (2019), Austax Policy (2019), LSE Business Review Blog (2019)
CV
Download my complete curriculum vitae:
Contact
Email: martin.olsson@ifn.se
Institution: Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)
Address:
Grevgatan 34, 2nd floor
Box 55665
SE-102 15 Stockholm, Sweden