Viking Age Economy Awakened Professor's Curiosity

Professor Rodney Edvinsson, an economic historian at Stockholm University, is celebrating his 55th birthday by delving into historical economics, even comparing prices from the Viking Age. His work challenges the common assumption that everything was cheaper in the past, especially when considering wage development alongside price increases.

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More expensive.

During a birthday celebration, Edvinsson engaged with a Dagens Nyheter reporter, comparing the price of GB ice cream from 1980 to the present. He noted that while a GB Sandwich has become about 7% more expensive for an average Swedish wage earner, a Piggelin ice cream is now 2% cheaper. This nuanced view, which accounts for inflation and wage growth, is facilitated by his unique price calculator.

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It's probably the milk that has become more expensive.

Edvinsson's personal journey is also intertwined with his academic pursuits. Born in Stockholm to parents who had fled Poland, he faced potential deportation as a child. After a period of temporary permits, he became a Swedish citizen in 1980, the same year he recalls as significant. This background has deeply influenced his views on current deportation policies, evoking strong emotions.

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Many economists also make mistakes by only looking at price increases.

He initially studied sociology before switching to economic history, eventually earning his doctorate in 2005. Edvinsson, whose first name was suggested by an American acquaintance of his mother, feels a strong connection to both his Swedish and Polish heritage. He speaks Polish fluently and contemplates the possibility of holding dual citizenship, though he expresses some apprehension about potentially losing his Swedish citizenship.

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I would actually like to have dual citizenship, because I identify myself as both Swedish and Polish.