Postdoctoral Researcher in Economics

About the role

The Department of Economics and Management in the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry at the University of Helsinki, Finland's public research university, invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher position in economics. The post is fixed-term for two years with a six-month trial period and ideally starts around January 2027, based in the Agricultural Economics research group at the Viikki campus in Helsinki. The position belongs to the research project Intergenerational Transitions in the Nordics (NEXT), funded by the Peter Wallenberg Foundation and led by Professor Lucia Naldi at Jonkoping University and Professor Pia Nilsson at the University of Helsinki. NEXT studies how institutional conditions, particularly inheritance and gift taxation, shape intergenerational farm succession and what follows for farm businesses in Sweden and Finland - Sweden abolished inheritance and gift taxes in 2005, while Finland keeps them with relief mechanisms, giving a strong comparative setting. The postdoctoral researcher will help build the harmonised Sweden-Finland empirical framework using longitudinal administrative register data and run econometric analyses of ownership transitions, including identifying and dating transitions, classifying transfer modes, distinguishing within-family from non-family transfers and linking succession events to outcomes such as farm viability, investment, land-use continuity and technological development. The role also offers scope to develop an independent research agenda, publish in leading international journals and contribute to new research projects and funding applications. Salary follows level 5 of the University of Helsinki requirement chart for teaching and research staff plus a personal performance component, with a typical starting salary of around EUR 3,600 to 3,800 per month depending on qualifications and experience; the appointee is expected to reside in Finland. Applications are submitted as a single PDF in English through the University of Helsinki recruitment system by 12 November 2026 at 23:59 Eastern European Time, including a motivation letter of up to two pages, a CV with a list of publications and the contact details of two references.

Requirements

- Doctoral degree suitable for postdoctoral research in economics or a related field - Research background and methodological skills relevant to the NEXT project - Experience with econometric analysis and large register or administrative datasets is central to the role - Ability to reside in Finland while employed and to work at the Viikki campus in Helsinki - Application submitted in English through the University of Helsinki recruitment system by the deadline

Skills