Robert Östling

Robert Östling is a Professor of Economics at the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), affiliated with the Department of Economics and the Karl-Adam Bonnier Center for Governance within the House of Governance and Public Policy. He holds a PhD from SSE (2008) and previously worked at Stockholm University's Institute for International Economic Studies until 2018. His research focuses on applied microeconomics and behavioral economics, particularly examining how wealth impacts attitudes, behavior, and life outcomes using Swedish lottery data. He teaches econometrics, behavioral economics, and economics for MBA students, and serves as program director for SSE's MSc in Economics.

Key roles include board membership of the Swedish Economics Association and the Expert Group on Public Economics (ESO), and membership in the scientific advisory board of the Swedish Consumer Protection Agency. He co-founded the popular economics blog Ekonomistas, recognized as 'Swede of the Year' in 2017. Awards include the Assar Lindbeck Medal (2021) and the Arnberg Prize (2009).

His research spans wealth effects on labor supply, health, child development, and political behavior. Notable projects include studying lottery winners' long-term well-being and portfolio decisions. Teaching innovations include using animated GIFs for econometrics instruction. He has contributed to policy debates on economic reforms, consumer protection, and pandemic responses.

Outreach activities include public writing and policy advisory roles. His research has been featured in outlets like the New York Times and Swedish media. He remains active in academic networks, including the Network for Evidence-Based Policy.