معرفی
Johanna Rickne is a Professor of Economics at the Institute for Social Research (SOFI), Stockholm University, where she conducts research at the intersection of labor economics, political economics, and gender studies. Her work examines gender disparities in labor markets and political representation, utilizing large-scale register data and natural experiments to analyze causal relationships in social phenomena. She actively contributes to SOFI's research environment through the Labor Market Economics (AME) and GAINS (Gender Analysis and Interdisciplinary research Network) groups.
Rickne's research program centers on understanding systemic inequalities through interdisciplinary lenses. Her investigations span gender dynamics in career advancement, political selection mechanisms, and the socioeconomic impacts of family structures. Key methodological approaches include quasi-experimental designs leveraging Swedish administrative data, with particular attention to how gender-traditional norms affect professional trajectories and relationship stability. Current projects address labor market equity for marginalized groups—including women, immigrants, and transgender individuals—and the historical evolution of gender-balanced political representation.
Analysis of her recent publications reveals consistent thematic focus on gendered career patterns, political elite formation, and workplace inequality. Her work demonstrates how structural barriers like the 'class ceiling' in politics and gender gaps in meaningful work persist despite formal equality measures. Methodologically, she pioneers the use of municipal-level political data and occupational survey evidence to isolate causal mechanisms, with growing emphasis on sexual harassment dynamics and intergenerational political transmission.
Scientific recognition includes:
- CEPR Fellow
- Wallenberg Academy Fellow
Rickne leads multiple significant research initiatives including 'En jämlik arbetsmarknad i teori och praktik' examining labor market outcomes for vulnerable demographics, 'Hundra års färd mot en jämställd politisk representation' analyzing historical political representation trends, and the Laborocto network fostering interdisciplinary working-life research. Her grant portfolio reflects sustained funding for projects investigating political recruitment barriers, gendered career divergence, and policy interventions for workplace equality. She actively mentors junior researchers through SOFI's collaborative environment while contributing to national policy debates on gender equity.
Within SOFI's organizational structure, Rickne operates through the Labor Market Economics group studying education, health, taxation, and crime alongside core labor issues, and the GAINS network facilitating cross-disciplinary gender research. Her workspace in University Road 10 F serves as a hub for analyzing Swedish registry data and coordinating international collaborations with institutions like IZA and the Stockholm China Economic Research Center, where she maintains affiliate status.
