Center for Philosophies of Markets
Markets are central institutions in contemporary societies. They influence not only the economy but also out everyday lives, leading some to argue that we live in a market society. From cradle to grave, across work and leisure, we all partake in a broad range of markets.
What major historical ideas have informed the organizing of markets and market society? How do markets work, what do they do, and how do they differ? In what contexts are markets situated, and how can we explain pendular shifts in our thinking about markets – for instance between free trade and protectionism, regulation and laissez-faire, competition and collaboration, transparency and opacity, profit and planet?
The Center for Philosophies of Markets is interdisciplinary in nature. The cross-departmental members of the center work collaboratively on research projects, events, and outreach. We arrange conferences, academic seminars, public outreach seminars, artistic, literary and philosophical seminars, as well as engage in public debates.
Philosophies of Markets: A summary of current research themes
The Market Society
Markets are often portrayed as neutral arenas where buyers and sellers meet. But behind every market lies a set of ideas – about value, fairness, freedom, and progress. This research theme explores how such ideals have guided markets through history, who champions them, and how they continue to shape today’s market societies. It also asks: what might a post-capitalist marketplace look like, and what new ideals could define it?
Market dynamics
Markets are not static structures – they evolve, intertwine, and sometimes collapse. By tracing how different markets interact, from housing to finance and insurance, the research reveals hidden connections and power shifts between producers, consumers, regulators, and global actors. It also investigates the limits of markets: what things are made for sale, and which are kept beyond the logic of trade?
Measurements of markets
At their core, markets depend on visibility. Prices, data, and measurements make the invisible world of transactions legible – but also shape what we see and what remains hidden. This theme examines how systems of measurement and valuation create order, or confusion, in markets, and how knowledge, secrecy, and opacity are used as strategic tools in an increasingly complex economy.
Researchers at The Center for Philosophies of Markets:
Hans Kjellberg, Professor, holder of The Handelsbanken Chair of Philosophies of Markets
Erik Wikberg, PhD, Executive Director
Kaisa Koskela-Huotari, Associate Professor
Ebba Sjögren, Associate Professor
Henning Christner, Assistant Professor
Jessica Backsell, Postdoctoral researcher
Mattias Hjelm, Postdoctoral researcher
Klas AM Eriksson, Postdoctoral researcher
Fairouz Hussein, Doctoral candidate
Pär Malmberg, Doctoral candidate
Lixin Lu, Doctoral candidate
Simon Billinger, Doctoral candidate
Two additional Assistant Professors are currently being recruited and plan to be onboarded in early 2026.
Affiliated researchers:
Pierre Guillet de Monthoux, Professor Stockholm School of Economics
Adam Arvidsson, Professor University of Naples Federico II
Outreach
The Center for Philosophies of Markets actively seeks to collaborate with other organizations interested in knowledge dissemination on market-related issues and studies. If you want to collaborate with the center, or get information on upcoming events, please reach out to Erik Wikberg (erik.wikberg@hhs.se).
If you are a journalist and want expert comments, please feel free to reach out to the individual researchers directly or contact Erik Wikberg (erik.wikberg@hhs.se) for guidance on who to contact.
When the contracts are formally signed, add "Current collaborative partners includeFolkuniversitet, Kulturhuset/Stadshuset, and Svenska Kyrkan."