Jonas Scherner

Jonas Scherner is Professor of Modern European Economic History at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim. He received his PhD and habilitation at the University of Mannheim before joining NTNU in 2010. In the academic year 2005/2006 he was a postdoctoral visiting fellow at the Economic Growth Center, Yale University and in 2008/2009 Visiting Research Fellow in Economic and Social History at the German Historical Institute (GHI), Washington DC.

His educational background includes:

• Habilitation in Economic and Social History, University of Mannheim, 2006
• Dr. rer. pol. (Doctoral Dissertation in Economics), summa cum laude, University of Mannheim, 1998
• Diplomvolkswirt (Master of Economics), University of Mannheim, 1994

Professor Scherner's research has focused on war preparation, war economies and their lasting effects, covering both state and company actors and using micro and macro data as well as qualitative sources. As one of the PIs of the Fate of Nations Research Group on the Global History and Political Economy of Natural Resources (2017-2024) he researched on natural resources and war. He is currently the corresponding PI of the ERC Synergy Grant #101166983, The Hidden Weapon. Blockade in the Era of the Two World Wars. His work particularly examines how nations prepare for and respond to economic blockades, with a focus on strategic resource management during wartime.

His recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on economic aspects of war, particularly Nazi Germany's economic strategies during WWII. His research examines topics such as blockade strategies, resource substitution, industrial policy, and the economic dimensions of military occupation. A recurring theme is how nations manage strategic resources during wartime, with particular attention to non-ferrous metals and other critical materials. His work combines quantitative economic analysis with historical methodology to provide nuanced insights into wartime economic decision-making.

Professor Scherner serves as a referee for numerous prestigious journals including Business History, Business History Review, Economic History Review, and others. He has also contributed book reviews to several academic publications.

His research has been covered in major media outlets including DER SPIEGEL and Focus magazine, demonstrating the broader impact and relevance of his historical economic research to contemporary understanding of war economies.