Einar Hoffstad
Encyclopedia
Einar Hoffstad was a Norwegian
encyclopedist, newspaper editor, writer and economist. He is most famous for having edited the encyclopedia Merkantilt biografisk leksikon and the business periodical Farmand
. Although he was a classic liberal in the 1930s, Hoffstad turned towards fascism
and collectivistic
ideals at the beginning of the Second World War.
to botanist and teacher Olaf Alfred Hoffstad
(1865–1943), he enrolled as a student in 1913. He studied at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
until 1916. He sold and bought shares from 1916 to 1917, and edited the stockbrokers' periodical Norsk Aktiemeglertidsskrift until 1919. He also edited the economy section of Verdens Gang from 1918 to 1919. Hoffstad graduated with a cand.oecon.
degree in economics in 1930.
In 1920, he began working at the economics periodical Farmand
. He was editor in chief
of the periodical from 1922 to 1926 and from 1933 to 1935. Whilst having a break from his career at Farmand, Hoffstad edited the enterprise journal Forretningsliv between 1926 and 1933, which was acquired by Farmand in 1933. From 1930 to 1933, he was managing director of A/S Forretningsliv, and in 1934 of A/S Yrkesforlaget. He also headed the Association for the Norwegian Trade Press and the Norwegian Press Association
in the 1930s. In 1935, Hoffstad was chief editor of the mercantile who's who Merkantilt biografisk leksikon
, which was published in a second edition in 1939. He died in July 1959.
and egalitarianism
. He stated that every society ought to "grant great freedom to commerce", and that inequality was "the condition for economic growth and creation of the necesseties of life". He was also a vocal critic of the welfare state
, arguing that it "undermined the ability and desire to keep oneself entertained". Hoffstad was also vocal against parliamentary democracy, as he considered human beings "undemocratic from birth", maintaining they had an "instinctive need for a dictator". "Dollfuss
, Mussolini
, and Hitler
are all very popular", he argued.
Despite his earlier libertarian views, Hoffstad gained gradually more fascist and collectivist views in the late 1930s. In March 1936, he wrote an article for the enterprise journal Norges Næringsveier entitled "Hverken kapitalisme eller sosialisme" ("Neither Capitalism nor Socialism"), where he stated that commerce should "abide by the new conditions", and that "socialism and capitalism are about to go together into a higher entity". He also gave support for collectivist ideas such as "the interests of the State and society should prevail over those of the individual". In the autumn of 1940, he encouraged entrepreneurs and business people of Norway to vote for the fascist Nasjonal Samling, which he had joined on 25 September. Hoffstad also welcomed the German occupation of Norway during the Second World War, stating that "Hitler's purpose is to create a new and happy Europe".
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
encyclopedist, newspaper editor, writer and economist. He is most famous for having edited the encyclopedia Merkantilt biografisk leksikon and the business periodical Farmand
Farmand
Farmand was a business magazine published in Oslo, Norway from 1891 until it was discontinued in 1989.The founder and first editor was Einar Sundt from 1891 to 1917. Einar Hoffstad later took over, being editor from 1922 to 1926 and from 1933 to 1935. Trygve J. B. Hoff, one of the founding members...
. Although he was a classic liberal in the 1930s, Hoffstad turned towards fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
and collectivistic
Collectivism
Collectivism is any philosophic, political, economic, mystical or social outlook that emphasizes the interdependence of every human in some collective group and the priority of group goals over individual goals. Collectivists usually focus on community, society, or nation...
ideals at the beginning of the Second World War.
Career
Born in SandefjordSandefjord
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sandefjord. The municipality of Sandefjord was established on 1 January 1838...
to botanist and teacher Olaf Alfred Hoffstad
Olaf Alfred Hoffstad
Olaf Alfred Hoffstad was a Norwegian botanist, writer, school principal and politician for the Conservative Party....
(1865–1943), he enrolled as a student in 1913. He studied at the Norwegian Institute of Technology
Norwegian Institute of Technology
The Norwegian Institute of Technology, known by its Norwegian abbrevation NTH was a science institute in Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1910, and existed as an independent technical university for 85 years, after which it was merged into the University of Trondheim as an independent...
until 1916. He sold and bought shares from 1916 to 1917, and edited the stockbrokers' periodical Norsk Aktiemeglertidsskrift until 1919. He also edited the economy section of Verdens Gang from 1918 to 1919. Hoffstad graduated with a cand.oecon.
Cand.oecon.
Candidatus oeconomices or Candidata oeconomices , often abbreviated cand.oecon. is an academic degree in economics at Danish and Norwegian universities. It is roughly equivalent to a Master of Economics, but it consists of 4+2 years, and was based on a four year cand.mag.. The degree was replaced...
degree in economics in 1930.
In 1920, he began working at the economics periodical Farmand
Farmand
Farmand was a business magazine published in Oslo, Norway from 1891 until it was discontinued in 1989.The founder and first editor was Einar Sundt from 1891 to 1917. Einar Hoffstad later took over, being editor from 1922 to 1926 and from 1933 to 1935. Trygve J. B. Hoff, one of the founding members...
. He was editor in chief
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
of the periodical from 1922 to 1926 and from 1933 to 1935. Whilst having a break from his career at Farmand, Hoffstad edited the enterprise journal Forretningsliv between 1926 and 1933, which was acquired by Farmand in 1933. From 1930 to 1933, he was managing director of A/S Forretningsliv, and in 1934 of A/S Yrkesforlaget. He also headed the Association for the Norwegian Trade Press and the Norwegian Press Association
Norwegian Press Association
The Norwegian Press Association is Norwegian association established in 1910, for press people with journalism as their main profession. Among its members are the Norwegian Union of Journalists, the Association of Norwegian Editors, Norsk Lokalradioforbund and the Norwegian Media Businesses'...
in the 1930s. In 1935, Hoffstad was chief editor of the mercantile who's who Merkantilt biografisk leksikon
Merkantilt biografisk leksikon
Merkantilt biografisk leksikon: hvem er hvem i næringslivet? was a Norwegian language encyclopedia published by Yrkesforlaget in 1935.It featured approximately 10,000 short biographical entries for Norwegian businesspeople, and was edited by Einar Hoffstad . It was printed by Grøndahl & Søns...
, which was published in a second edition in 1939. He died in July 1959.
Political views
As editor in chief of Farmand, Hoffstad was a classic liberal who argued against planned economyPlanned economy
A planned economy is an economic system in which decisions regarding production and investment are embodied in a plan formulated by a central authority, usually by a government agency...
and egalitarianism
Egalitarianism
Egalitarianism is a trend of thought that favors equality of some sort among moral agents, whether persons or animals. Emphasis is placed upon the fact that equality contains the idea of equity of quality...
. He stated that every society ought to "grant great freedom to commerce", and that inequality was "the condition for economic growth and creation of the necesseties of life". He was also a vocal critic of the welfare state
Welfare state
A welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those...
, arguing that it "undermined the ability and desire to keep oneself entertained". Hoffstad was also vocal against parliamentary democracy, as he considered human beings "undemocratic from birth", maintaining they had an "instinctive need for a dictator". "Dollfuss
Engelbert Dollfuss
Engelbert Dollfuss was an Austrian Christian Social and Patriotic Front statesman. Serving previously as Minister for Forest and Agriculture, he ascended to Federal Chancellor in 1932 in the midst of a crisis for the conservative government...
, Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
, and Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
are all very popular", he argued.
Despite his earlier libertarian views, Hoffstad gained gradually more fascist and collectivist views in the late 1930s. In March 1936, he wrote an article for the enterprise journal Norges Næringsveier entitled "Hverken kapitalisme eller sosialisme" ("Neither Capitalism nor Socialism"), where he stated that commerce should "abide by the new conditions", and that "socialism and capitalism are about to go together into a higher entity". He also gave support for collectivist ideas such as "the interests of the State and society should prevail over those of the individual". In the autumn of 1940, he encouraged entrepreneurs and business people of Norway to vote for the fascist Nasjonal Samling, which he had joined on 25 September. Hoffstad also welcomed the German occupation of Norway during the Second World War, stating that "Hitler's purpose is to create a new and happy Europe".