Corruption, welfare and confidence
Migration as an issue or a socio-economic benefit
What happens when the conditions on different sides of a border differ so much that they create tensions and problems for the people around them? How should people, goods and capital be allowed to move?
Our researchers study which patterns are behind the relatively low level of corruption in this part of Europe, and how to ensure that the level does not increase. They also study how political polarisation affects our society, the movements in and around the EU, the consequences of migration and how we can better face them.
“Migration can become an issue for our public finances, but it can also be a socio-economic benefit,” says Andreas Bergh, associate professor of Economics and an often cited editorial writer at Swedish daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter.
Read more: ”The Capitalist Welfare State”‚ blog by Andreas Bergh
Analysing the effects of rebuilding barriers
The School of Economics and Management runs the Swedish Network for European Studies in Economics and Business (SNEE) – a national research network, commissioned by the Government, that works to promote Swedish economic research focusing on European integration.
Every year, the network holds a conference on a current topic. In 2017 the theme was trade and integration in anti-globalisation times, in light of the UK referendum to leave the EU and Donald Trump’s proposal to establish new barriers to trade.
“After a fairly long period of increased integration between countries, in many places – not least in Europe – we now see that protectionist trends are becoming politically successful. It is therefore important that the research community is prepared to analyse and explain the effects of these trade barriers as they start to rebuild,” says Maria Persson, associate professor of Economics and former chair of the SNEE network.
A more confidence-based form of governance
We also have researchers who are investigating how our public authorities and municipalities can optimise their operations to make their employees feel that their work is meaningful and that they are respected. When the Swedish Government some years ago appointed a delegation to conduct a government inquiry concerning confidence, the person to be in charge of research within the delegation was recruited from none other than the School of Economics and Management at Lund University.
“My responsibility was to lead 12 research projects, in which nearly 30 researchers from around the country participate in various pilot activities within the welfare sector. Through these activities, they tried to increase confidence in various ways and give employees further opportunities to independently develop the work to fulfil the needs of users. Herein lies a huge commitment to the work of a more confidence-based form of governance,” says Louise Bringselius, associate professor of Business Administration.