ABSTRACT
Since its foundation in 1909, one of the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE) key institutional goals is to be seen as an established and respected scientific institution, which is understandable in the light of the school’s original purpose, namely to raise the social status of businesspersons. The question of independence from external actors’ influence is usually the main characteristic of a university in its original and ideal “Humboldtian” form, stressing critical thinking and intellectual analysis. Is the research at the SSE then free from influence from the business community that finances the institution, which would thus qualify the SSE as a “genuine university,” thus potentially fostering students into “academics”? This chapter examines the academic freedom at the SSE, especially regarding the terms and conditions of the professors. The conditions for research affect the academic and social culture of the school, thus profoundly affecting the way students are socialized.
