Ivar Kolstad
Biographic Data
| ID | 4075171 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Ivar Kolstad |
| GIVEN NAMES | Ivar |
| FAMILY NAME | Kolstad |
| SIGNATURE | KOLSTAD I |
| AFFILIATIONS | Chr. Michelsen Institute |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-0018-1094 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 23 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 165 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 23 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Hidden ownership in suspicious transactions - experimental evidence on anti-money laundering reporting priorities in Norway
Concealing illicit funds through hidden ownership is a well-known money laundering method. This paper analyzes whether non-transparent ownership receives sufficient attention relative to other red flags of money laundering, using a randomized discrete choice experiment of 334 Norwegian anti-money laundering (AML) professionals. The results show that while unknown beneficial ownership increases the odds that a transaction is reported as suspicious…
Impacts of Effective Altruism on Donor Behaviour: A Randomised Discrete Choice Experiment
In a pre-registered randomised online experiment, we test the effect of an effective altruism information treatment on donations to non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Donor behaviour is measured through an incentivised discrete choice experimental approach. Despite power to pick up reasonably small effects, we find no effect of the treatment on donations to advocacy organisations, suggesting that the critique against effective altruism as ign…
Information and accountability: Experimental evidence from Angola
We study government incentives to join international transparency initiatives. • We present results from a lab experiment conducted in Angola. • We test whether subjects punish decision makers who withhold information. • Results show decision makers are not held accountable for withholding information. • This casts doubt on the demand for information presumed by transparency initiatives. Autocratic governments are typically characterized by a lac…
Effects of information about irregular migration on transit community attitudes towards migrants
How does exposure to Eiti member countries affect extractive industry conduct
Intergroup Interaction and Attitudes to Migrants
Legitimising autocracy: Re-Framing the Analysis of Corporate Relations to Undemocratic Regimes
Recent work in political economy suggests that autocratic regimes have been moving from an approach of mass repression based on violence, towards one of manipulation of information, where highlighting regime performance is a strategy used to boost regime popularity and maintain control. While the evolving strategies autocratic governments use to legitimise their rule have been the subject of much analysis, the role of third parties in adding to s…
Does Changing the Narrative Improve Host Community Attitudes Toward Climate Migrants? Experimental Evidence from Bangladesh
A number of studies suggest that prevailing narratives about the situation of the poor and vulnerable affect how they are viewed and treated. Theoretically, a potentially powerful way to make host communities more welcoming of climate migrants is to shift the blame for their situation away from the migrants themselves and onto other forces or agents. We present results from a randomized field experiment conducted among long-term residents of host…
Does an Economics Education Produce Technocratic Paternalists? Experimental Evidence from Tanzania
When confronted with information that ordinary citizens do not care that strongly about efficiency, do economists change their views of optimal public policy? In a randomised experiment on tax preferences conducted among business and economics students in Tanzania, we supplied the treatment group with information that ordinary citizens disagree with implications of efficiency-based optimal tax theory. Tax preferences were then measured using disc…
How do host–migrant proximities shape attitudes toward internal climate migrants
Climate change is predicted to cause voluntary and forced internal migration on an unprecedented scale in the coming decades. Yet, research on host communities that will be on the front lines in receiving the climate migrants has thus far been a neglected area within climate change research. Inspired by previous research on psychological distance’s impact on people’s behavior and attitudes, this article develops a conceptual framework proposing t…
What happens to growth when a long‐term political leader leaves office
We analyze the economic performance of countries after a multi‐decade political ruler, defined as having been in office 20 or more years, loses power. For 37 countries experiencing such an end‐of‐reign event in the period 1971–2005, we use an event study approach to compare growth in the decade following the event with growth in pre‐event periods. The results show that event countries have below average growth in the year a long‐term political le…
Too big to fault? Effects of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize on Norwegian exports to China and foreign policy
In October 2010, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. The Chinese Government responded by freezing political and economic relations with Norway, introducing sanctions on imports of fish and other products, and limiting diplomatic interaction. Using a synthetic control approach, we estimate the effect of Chinese sanctions on Norwegian exports to China and on Norwegian foreign policy. We find …
How Does Information About Elite Tax Evasion Affect Political Participation: Experimental Evidence from Tanzania
We present results of a randomised field experiment where voters in Tanzania were given information about elite use of tax havens. Information provided in a neutral form had no effect, while information phrased in more morally charged terms led to a reduction in voting intentions. Rather than increase the perceived importance of voting, charged information tends to undermine confidence in political institutions and the social contract. The effect…
Elite behaviour and citizen mobilisation
This article studies the relation between self‐serving elite behaviour and citizen political participation. It uses a fixed effects approach to analyse the association between portfolio investment in tax havens and voter turnout, using data from 213 parliamentary elections in 65 countries for the period 1998–2014. For well‐functioning democracies a positive relation between the use of tax havens and voter turnout is found, suggesting that self‐se…
Diversification and democracy
Does diversification of an economy improve the chances of democracy? In theory, diversification may reduce elite cohesion and improve citizens’ outside options, making democracy more likely. This paper estimates the effect of export diversification on democracy, using data from 143 countries. We use variability within countries in fertile soil as an instrument for diversification, controlling for country size. To address the possibility that curr…
Does democracy reduce corruption
While democracy is commonly believed to reduce corruption, there are obvious endogeneity problems in measuring the impact of democracy on corruption. This article attempts to address the endogeneity of democracy by exploiting the thesis that democracies seldom go to war against each other. We instrument for democracy using a dummy variable reflecting whether a country has been at war with a democracy in the period 1946–2008, while controlling for…
Resource Curse
Countries rich in resources such as oil or diamonds on average have lower economic growth, more poverty and inequality, and lower levels of human development than other countries. This phenomenon is known as the resource curse. Recent scientific work on the phenomenon emphasizes political mechanisms, and finds that the resource curse is due to poor institutions. Major topics in the international business literature have been the normative analysi…
What determines Chinese outward FDI?
Corruption as violation of distributed ethical obligations
The ethics of corruption cannot be analysed without simultaneously addressing the legitimacy of public office or entrusted power. This paper introduces a concept of core unethical corruption, defined as violations of distributed ethical obligations for private gain. In other words, it is suggested that what is ethically wrong with corruption is that it entails the violation of certain obligations attributed to agents. By explicitly relating corru…
Corruption in natural resource management: Implications for policy makers
Human Rights and Assigned Duties: Implications for Corporations
Is Transparency the Key to Reducing Corruption in Resource-Rich Countries
Lowering barriers to agricultural exports through technical assistance
Is Transparency the Key to Reducing Corruption in Resource-Rich Countries
Does democracy reduce corruption
While democracy is commonly believed to reduce corruption, there are obvious endogeneity problems in measuring the impact of democracy on corruption. This article attempts to address the endogeneity of democracy by exploiting the thesis that democracies seldom go to war against each other. We instrument for democracy using a dummy variable reflecting whether a country has been at war with a democracy in the period 1946–2008, while controlling for…
Too big to fault? Effects of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize on Norwegian exports to China and foreign policy
In October 2010, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. The Chinese Government responded by freezing political and economic relations with Norway, introducing sanctions on imports of fish and other products, and limiting diplomatic interaction. Using a synthetic control approach, we estimate the effect of Chinese sanctions on Norwegian exports to China and on Norwegian foreign policy. We find …
How do host–migrant proximities shape attitudes toward internal climate migrants
Climate change is predicted to cause voluntary and forced internal migration on an unprecedented scale in the coming decades. Yet, research on host communities that will be on the front lines in receiving the climate migrants has thus far been a neglected area within climate change research. Inspired by previous research on psychological distance’s impact on people’s behavior and attitudes, this article develops a conceptual framework proposing t…
Diversification and democracy
Does diversification of an economy improve the chances of democracy? In theory, diversification may reduce elite cohesion and improve citizens’ outside options, making democracy more likely. This paper estimates the effect of export diversification on democracy, using data from 143 countries. We use variability within countries in fertile soil as an instrument for diversification, controlling for country size. To address the possibility that curr…
Human Rights and Assigned Duties: Implications for Corporations
Intergroup Interaction and Attitudes to Migrants
Corruption as violation of distributed ethical obligations
The ethics of corruption cannot be analysed without simultaneously addressing the legitimacy of public office or entrusted power. This paper introduces a concept of core unethical corruption, defined as violations of distributed ethical obligations for private gain. In other words, it is suggested that what is ethically wrong with corruption is that it entails the violation of certain obligations attributed to agents. By explicitly relating corru…
Legitimising autocracy: Re-Framing the Analysis of Corporate Relations to Undemocratic Regimes
Recent work in political economy suggests that autocratic regimes have been moving from an approach of mass repression based on violence, towards one of manipulation of information, where highlighting regime performance is a strategy used to boost regime popularity and maintain control. While the evolving strategies autocratic governments use to legitimise their rule have been the subject of much analysis, the role of third parties in adding to s…
Does Changing the Narrative Improve Host Community Attitudes Toward Climate Migrants? Experimental Evidence from Bangladesh
A number of studies suggest that prevailing narratives about the situation of the poor and vulnerable affect how they are viewed and treated. Theoretically, a potentially powerful way to make host communities more welcoming of climate migrants is to shift the blame for their situation away from the migrants themselves and onto other forces or agents. We present results from a randomized field experiment conducted among long-term residents of host…
Elite behaviour and citizen mobilisation
This article studies the relation between self‐serving elite behaviour and citizen political participation. It uses a fixed effects approach to analyse the association between portfolio investment in tax havens and voter turnout, using data from 213 parliamentary elections in 65 countries for the period 1998–2014. For well‐functioning democracies a positive relation between the use of tax havens and voter turnout is found, suggesting that self‐se…
Lowering barriers to agricultural exports through technical assistance
Human Rights and Assigned Duties: Implications for Corporations
Is Transparency the Key to Reducing Corruption in Resource-Rich Countries
Corruption in natural resource management: Implications for policy makers
What determines Chinese outward FDI?
Corruption as violation of distributed ethical obligations
The ethics of corruption cannot be analysed without simultaneously addressing the legitimacy of public office or entrusted power. This paper introduces a concept of core unethical corruption, defined as violations of distributed ethical obligations for private gain. In other words, it is suggested that what is ethically wrong with corruption is that it entails the violation of certain obligations attributed to agents. By explicitly relating corru…
Resource Curse
Countries rich in resources such as oil or diamonds on average have lower economic growth, more poverty and inequality, and lower levels of human development than other countries. This phenomenon is known as the resource curse. Recent scientific work on the phenomenon emphasizes political mechanisms, and finds that the resource curse is due to poor institutions. Major topics in the international business literature have been the normative analysi…
Does democracy reduce corruption
While democracy is commonly believed to reduce corruption, there are obvious endogeneity problems in measuring the impact of democracy on corruption. This article attempts to address the endogeneity of democracy by exploiting the thesis that democracies seldom go to war against each other. We instrument for democracy using a dummy variable reflecting whether a country has been at war with a democracy in the period 1946–2008, while controlling for…
Elite behaviour and citizen mobilisation
This article studies the relation between self‐serving elite behaviour and citizen political participation. It uses a fixed effects approach to analyse the association between portfolio investment in tax havens and voter turnout, using data from 213 parliamentary elections in 65 countries for the period 1998–2014. For well‐functioning democracies a positive relation between the use of tax havens and voter turnout is found, suggesting that self‐se…
Diversification and democracy
Does diversification of an economy improve the chances of democracy? In theory, diversification may reduce elite cohesion and improve citizens’ outside options, making democracy more likely. This paper estimates the effect of export diversification on democracy, using data from 143 countries. We use variability within countries in fertile soil as an instrument for diversification, controlling for country size. To address the possibility that curr…
How Does Information About Elite Tax Evasion Affect Political Participation: Experimental Evidence from Tanzania
We present results of a randomised field experiment where voters in Tanzania were given information about elite use of tax havens. Information provided in a neutral form had no effect, while information phrased in more morally charged terms led to a reduction in voting intentions. Rather than increase the perceived importance of voting, charged information tends to undermine confidence in political institutions and the social contract. The effect…
Does an Economics Education Produce Technocratic Paternalists? Experimental Evidence from Tanzania
When confronted with information that ordinary citizens do not care that strongly about efficiency, do economists change their views of optimal public policy? In a randomised experiment on tax preferences conducted among business and economics students in Tanzania, we supplied the treatment group with information that ordinary citizens disagree with implications of efficiency-based optimal tax theory. Tax preferences were then measured using disc…
How do host–migrant proximities shape attitudes toward internal climate migrants
Climate change is predicted to cause voluntary and forced internal migration on an unprecedented scale in the coming decades. Yet, research on host communities that will be on the front lines in receiving the climate migrants has thus far been a neglected area within climate change research. Inspired by previous research on psychological distance’s impact on people’s behavior and attitudes, this article develops a conceptual framework proposing t…
What happens to growth when a long‐term political leader leaves office
We analyze the economic performance of countries after a multi‐decade political ruler, defined as having been in office 20 or more years, loses power. For 37 countries experiencing such an end‐of‐reign event in the period 1971–2005, we use an event study approach to compare growth in the decade following the event with growth in pre‐event periods. The results show that event countries have below average growth in the year a long‐term political le…
Too big to fault? Effects of the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize on Norwegian exports to China and foreign policy
In October 2010, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo. The Chinese Government responded by freezing political and economic relations with Norway, introducing sanctions on imports of fish and other products, and limiting diplomatic interaction. Using a synthetic control approach, we estimate the effect of Chinese sanctions on Norwegian exports to China and on Norwegian foreign policy. We find …
Does Changing the Narrative Improve Host Community Attitudes Toward Climate Migrants? Experimental Evidence from Bangladesh
A number of studies suggest that prevailing narratives about the situation of the poor and vulnerable affect how they are viewed and treated. Theoretically, a potentially powerful way to make host communities more welcoming of climate migrants is to shift the blame for their situation away from the migrants themselves and onto other forces or agents. We present results from a randomized field experiment conducted among long-term residents of host…
Legitimising autocracy: Re-Framing the Analysis of Corporate Relations to Undemocratic Regimes
Recent work in political economy suggests that autocratic regimes have been moving from an approach of mass repression based on violence, towards one of manipulation of information, where highlighting regime performance is a strategy used to boost regime popularity and maintain control. While the evolving strategies autocratic governments use to legitimise their rule have been the subject of much analysis, the role of third parties in adding to s…
Information and accountability: Experimental evidence from Angola
We study government incentives to join international transparency initiatives. • We present results from a lab experiment conducted in Angola. • We test whether subjects punish decision makers who withhold information. • Results show decision makers are not held accountable for withholding information. • This casts doubt on the demand for information presumed by transparency initiatives. Autocratic governments are typically characterized by a lac…
Effects of information about irregular migration on transit community attitudes towards migrants
How does exposure to Eiti member countries affect extractive industry conduct
Intergroup Interaction and Attitudes to Migrants
Hidden ownership in suspicious transactions - experimental evidence on anti-money laundering reporting priorities in Norway
Concealing illicit funds through hidden ownership is a well-known money laundering method. This paper analyzes whether non-transparent ownership receives sufficient attention relative to other red flags of money laundering, using a randomized discrete choice experiment of 334 Norwegian anti-money laundering (AML) professionals. The results show that while unknown beneficial ownership increases the odds that a transaction is reported as suspicious…
Impacts of Effective Altruism on Donor Behaviour: A Randomised Discrete Choice Experiment
In a pre-registered randomised online experiment, we test the effect of an effective altruism information treatment on donations to non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Donor behaviour is measured through an incentivised discrete choice experimental approach. Despite power to pick up reasonably small effects, we find no effect of the treatment on donations to advocacy organisations, suggesting that the critique against effective altruism as ign…
Political science (19 works) · Economics (17 works) · Corruption and Economic Development (10 works) · Law (10 works) · Business (9 works) · Law (9 works) · Politics (9 works) · Sociology (7 works) · Natural Resources and Economic Development (6 works) · Psychology (6 works)