Puu studied at from 1956 to 1964, and finished his Doctor of Philosophy in Economics in 1964 with Professor Tord Palander as thesis adviser. The thesis was graded "A" (Laudatur), the highest on a six-step scale (a rare distinction, used only thrice in Economics at Swedish universities in the 20th century). The thesis was awarded the Erik Lindahl Prize.
He is the Professor of Economics at Umeå University. From a previous marriage he has two children, Margareta Puu, principal statistician (Global Positioning System) at AstraZeneca, born 1974, and Magnus Puu, computer programmer, born 1981. Puu worked as acting full professor of Economics at Uppsala University 1963-1970, and was appointed ordinary Professor of Economics by Royal patent at Umeå University in 1971.
After emeritation in 2001, he works as senior professor at the Centre for Regional Science (CERUM).
He had various commitments, such as being chairman of the Department of Economics, Business, and Law, chairman of the Board of the University Library, and vice president of the Union of Swedish University Professors. Puu is currently Fellow of the Regional Science Association International.
Puu was associated with the following scientific journals: Annals of Regional Science, Regional Science and Urban Economics, Journal of Regional Science, Networks and Spatial Theory, Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society, International Journal of Shape Modelling, Nonlinear Dynamics, Psychology, and Life Sciences, Mansoura Science Bulletin, a.o. Other musical interests are playing the viola da gamba, and being a "luthier", making his own instruments.
