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John Olson

John Olson

He/His
  • Assistant Professor of Instruction

Contact

john.olson@northwestern.edu
318 Annenberg Hall
Website
Curriculum Vitae

Academic Area

Social and Economic Policy

Research Interests

Macroeconomics (fiscal and monetary policy), Public Finance (tax and transfer systems)

Biography

Dr. John S. Olson is an economist specializing in macroeconomics and public finance. As an Assistant Professor of Instruction, John helps develop, lecture, and advise for the Masters in and Social and Economic Policy (MSSEP) program at Northwestern University's School of Education and Social Policy (SESP). Aside from his constant enthusiasm for teaching and fostering engaging classroom environments, his work primarily focuses on tax and transfer systems, international education, and their interactions with economic opportunity, the business cycle, and growth. When not at work, John enjoys playing entirely too many simulation and strategy video games, and being a cat dad to the most cuddly kitty of all time.

Education

  • PhD, Economics, University of Michigan, 2024
  • MA, Economics, University of Michigan, 2020
  • BS, Economics, University of Kansas, 2017
  • BA, Mathematics, University of Kansas, 2017

Awards and Honors

  • Applied Learning Award, Northwestern University (2024). Honors a faculty member who encourages and helps students apply their academic learning in real-world settings.

Select Publications

Kawano, L., Olson, J. S., Slemrod, J., & Hsieh, M. H. (2025). How Taxes Affect Growth: Evidence from Cross-Country Panel Data. International Tax and Public Finance. doi:10.1007/s10797-025-09901-z