Tuomas Kosonen

Tuomas Kosonen is a Research Professor at the VATT Institute for Economic Research in Helsinki, Finland, with a PhD in Economics (2011) and Master’s in Social Sciences (2005) from the University of Helsinki. His academic affiliations include the CESifo network and the Academy of Finland as a Research Fellow. He collaborates with institutions such as MIT, Aalto University, Uppsala University, and the University of Michigan.

• Education:
  • Doctor of Social Sciences in Economics, University of Helsinki (2011)
  • Master of Social Sciences in Economics, University of Helsinki (2005)

Research Interests
His work bridges public economics and labor economics, focusing on tax policy design, behavioral responses to taxation, and empirical analysis of transfer programs. Recent projects examine the substitution effects in excise taxes, asymmetric VAT pass-through, and long-term impacts of parental leave policies on child development and education.

Article Trends
His publications over the last five years emphasize tax incidence (VAT, carbon taxes, car import taxes) and policy evaluation using quasi-experimental methods. Key themes include behavioral economics in tax compliance, price-setting heterogeneity in firms, and intergenerational policy effects, particularly in family and labor market contexts.

Scientific Awards
Tuomas has received recognition as an Academy Research Fellow by the Academy of Finland, underscoring his contributions to empirical public economics and policy analysis.

Advising & Collaborations
He has co-authored with leading economists such as Jon Gruber (MIT), Matti Sarvimäki (Aalto University), and Joel Slemrod (University of Michigan). His work leverages unique datasets, including product-level sales data and administrative records, to inform tax and labor market policy debates.