The Economic and Political History Podcast The Economics of Prehistory | Ola Olsson with Javier Mejia
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Jul 12, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Ola Olsson, a Professor at the University of Gothenburg, dives into the intriguing blend of economics and prehistory. He explores the evolution of human economies from hunter-gatherer societies to agriculture, underlining how climate and technology shaped development. The conversation touches on the complexities of using modern data to infer insights about prehistoric life and the ethical dimensions of this research. Olsson also emphasizes the relevance of understanding economic history in tackling today's wealth disparities and environmental challenges.
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Ola Olsson’s Prehistory Spark
- Ola Olsson's interest in prehistory started during his PhD studies inspired by Jared Diamond's book "Guns, Germs, and Steel."
- This sparked research leading to well-cited papers blending economics with long-term human development.
Long-Run History Explains Inequality
- Understanding huge income differences requires studying long-run factors like institutions and technology.
- Earlier transitions to agriculture and statehood gave some regions a head start, explaining current wealth gaps.
Economics Integrates Prehistoric Studies
- Paleo economics bridges economics and other disciplines studying prehistory such as anthropology and archaeology.
- Economists contribute formal theory and advanced causal empirical methods to study ancient economic dynamics.
