Postdoctoral Fellow in Economics

at the Swedish Institute for Social Research. Closing date: 1 February 2024.

The Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI), Stockholm University, conducts research on social policies and labour market issues. Researchers at the institute work in the field of social policy, welfare, inequality, health and labor economics. We have a unit for undergraduate education, AKPA, and we conduct postgraduate education together with other departments in economics and sociology. We have more than 30 researchers with PhDs working in labor economics and 40 researchers with PhDs working in sociologi.

The economics of crime is a sub-field of labor economics that aims to understand both how individuals within the criminal justice system, ranging from offenders to police to judges, make decisions as well as the consequences of those decisions.

Project description
The research project is entitled, “Breaking the Inequality-Crime Cycle: Biases in Police Decisions, 'What Works' in Prison, and Firm Demand for Workers with Criminal Records”. The project is funded by the European Research Council with Prof. Randi Hjalmarsson (Gothenburg University) as the PI and Prof. Matthew Lindquist as the local research coordinataor at SOFI, Stockholm University.
 
Economic inequality and segregation imply vastly unequal opportunities in many dimensions – the labor market, healthcare, informal networks, exposure to police – that can impact the chances of ending up in trouble with the law. Once caught in the justice system, it can be hard to break free, especially if a criminal record increases the barriers to employment. This cycle of crime and economic inequality can even be perpetuated across generations, if the impacts of a criminal record spill-over to an offender’s family members. 
 
This three-part agenda considers multiple points at which the cycle can potentially be broken, including (i) police decision making and the role of training, (ii) prison reforms and prison care, including healthcare, and (iii) the role of employment opportunities – or lack thereof – for individuals with criminal records. This final part will emphasize both the potential role of firm hiring decisions and offender informal networks. The core of this economics of crime agenda is thus at the intersection of literatures within labor economics, health economics, and networks and peer effects.

Main responsibilities
The recruited postdoctor will be expected to collaborate with Prof.Hjalmarsson and Prof. Lindquist on their ERC agenda on how to break the inequality-crime cycle.

• The position is research intensive, and successful candidates will be expected to engage in research within the scope of the project.
• There is minimal teaching and/or administration.
• Postdoctors may also be expected to collaborate with other team members, including PhD students, and research assistants.
• Active participation in the SOFI research environment (e.g., seminar participation and organization).
• Potential research visits with collaborators in Gothenburg, the UK, US, and Germany.

Qualification requirements
Postdoctoral positions are appointed primarily for purposes of research. Applicants are expected to hold a Swedish doctoral degree or an equivalent degree from another country.

Assessment criteria
The degree must have been completed at latest before the employment decision is made, but no more than three years before the closing date. An older degree may be acceptable under special circumstances. Special reasons refer to sick leave, parental leave, elected positions in trade unions, service in the total defense, or other similar circumstances as well as clinical attachment or service/assignments relevant to the subject area.

The ideal candidate will have a background in applied microeconomics, with research experience or interest in the economics of crime. Applicants with training in labor economics, experience working with large register data sets and collecting data from public agencies (especially in Sweden, the US, and UK), and demonstrated expertise with contemporary quasi-experimental research designs will be especially well qualified for the position. 

As we operate in an international environment, the applicant is expected to have excellent communication skills in both written and spoken English.

The applicant who, in the overall assessment of skills and potential, is deemed to be best suited to contribute to the research agenda will be chosen. Research potential will be a key selection criterion, with a particular emphasis on the degree of progression and forward-looking aspects of the research.

Terms of employment
The position involves full-time employment for a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years, with the possibility of extension under special circumstances. Start date 2024-09-01 or as per agreement.

Stockholm University strives to be a workplace free from discrimination and with equal opportunities for all.

Contact
Further information about the position can be obtained from Professor Matthew Lindquist, telephone: +46 8 16 38 31, matthew.lindquist@sofi.su.se.

Union representatives
Ingrid Lander (Saco-S), telephone: +46 708 16 26 64, saco@saco.su.se, Alejandra Pizarro Carrasco (Fackförbundet ST/OFR), telephone: +46 8 16 34 89, alejandra@st.su.se, and seko@seko.su.se (SEKO).

Application
First round interviews for applicants who apply before December 1 will be conducted in coordination with the European Job Market for Economists at the end of December. The interviews will continue after the application period has closed.

Apply for the position at Stockholm University's recruitment system. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the job advertisement, and that it is submitted before the deadline.

Please include the following information with your application

• Your contact details and personal data
• Your highest degree
• Your language skills
• Contact details for 2–3 references

and, in addition, please include the following documents

• Cover letter
• CV – degrees and other completed courses, work experience and a list of publications
• Research proposal (no more than 3 pages) describing:
  – why you are interested in the field/project described in the advertisement
  – why and how you wish to complete the project
  – what makes you suitable for the project in question
• Copy of PhD diploma
• Publications in support of your application (no more than 3 files).

The instructions for applicants are available at: How to apply for a position.

You are welcome to apply!

Stockholm University contributes to the development of sustainable democratic society through knowledge, enlightenment and the pursuit of truth.