Hermod Skånland
Encyclopedia
Hermod Skånland was a Norwegian
economist and civil servant, who served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Norway from 1985 to 1993.
as a son of school director Peder Skånland (1885–1958) and teacher Margit Maurstad (1893–1977). He finished
his secondary education in 1944 and graduated with the cand.oecon.
degree in 1951. He started working as a researcher in Statistics Norway
, but already after one year he was hired in the Ministry of Finance
as a consultant. This was not uncontroversial, as he was arguably the least experienced of the applicants. Already in 1953 he had a tenure as acting assistant secretary. He remained in the Ministry of Finance for several years, except for studies in the United States in the mid-1950s. He was promoted to assistant secretary in 1959, and in 1960 he was promoted to deputy under-secretary of state. This happened as another deputy under-secretary, Sigurd Lorentzen
, left the ministry, Truls Glesne
succeeded Lorentzen and Skånland succeeded Glesne. Historian Einar Lie has noted that this shuffle "gave room for Hermod Skånland, the 'wonderboy' of the economists".
Skånland served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Norway from 1985 to 1993, having served since 1971 as the Deputy Governor. Already as Deputy Governor he held a strong position, particularly when Governor Knut Getz Wold
became ill. Skånland was also a member of several public boards in this period, as well as chairman of Statistics Norway from 1981 to 1993, and board member of NTNF from 1979 to 1985 and the Nordic Investment Bank
from 1976 to 1988. From 1994 to 2003 he was an assisting professor at the BI School of Management
. He has also been vice president of the Norwegian branch of UNICEF. He is a member of the Norwegian Labour Party
.
He was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (1987), and held foreign orders of knighthood. He received the Fritt Ord Honorary Award in 1980, and a festschrift
to him was issued in 1994.
In 1998 he was appointed as a Commander with Star of Finland's Order of the Lion
and as a Commander with Star of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon
. He received the Luxembourg Order of Merit
(Commander) and in 1990 he was awarded the 1998 Economist Award.
Skånland died at Fagertun nursing home in Gran
, at the age of 85. He was survived by one daughter.
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...
economist and civil servant, who served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Norway from 1985 to 1993.
Biography
Skånland was born in TromsøTromsø
Tromsø is a city and municipality in Troms county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tromsø.Tromsø city is the ninth largest urban area in Norway by population, and the seventh largest city in Norway by population...
as a son of school director Peder Skånland (1885–1958) and teacher Margit Maurstad (1893–1977). He finished
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
his secondary education in 1944 and graduated with the 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 1951. He started working as a researcher in Statistics Norway
Statistics Norway
Statistics Norway is the Norwegian statistics bureau. It was established in 1876.Relying on a staff of about 1,000, Statistics Norway publish about 1,000 new statistical releases every year on its web site. All releases are published both in Norwegian and English...
, but already after one year he was hired in the Ministry of Finance
Norwegian Ministry of Finance
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Finance is a Norwegian ministry established in 1814. The ministry is responsible for state finance, including the state budget, taxation and economic policy in Norway. It is led by Sigbjørn Johnsen...
as a consultant. This was not uncontroversial, as he was arguably the least experienced of the applicants. Already in 1953 he had a tenure as acting assistant secretary. He remained in the Ministry of Finance for several years, except for studies in the United States in the mid-1950s. He was promoted to assistant secretary in 1959, and in 1960 he was promoted to deputy under-secretary of state. This happened as another deputy under-secretary, Sigurd Lorentzen
Sigurd Lorentzen
Sigurd Juell Lorentzen was a Norwegian judge and civil servant.He was born in Sunndal, and was a brother of professor Gustav Fredrik Lorentzen. He married judge LeliaMarie Loe in 1957. They resided in Bærum....
, left the ministry, Truls Glesne
Truls Glesne
Truls Glesne was a Norwegian economist and civil servant.He graduated from the University of Oslo with the cand.oecon. degree in 1940. He worked as a secretary in the Ministry of Provisioning from 1941 to 1942, and spent the rest of the World War II years in the company G. C. Rieber...
succeeded Lorentzen and Skånland succeeded Glesne. Historian Einar Lie has noted that this shuffle "gave room for Hermod Skånland, the 'wonderboy' of the economists".
Skånland served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Norway from 1985 to 1993, having served since 1971 as the Deputy Governor. Already as Deputy Governor he held a strong position, particularly when Governor Knut Getz Wold
Knut Getz Wold
Knut Getz Wold is a Norwegian economist and civil servant, who served as the Governor of the Central Bank of Norway from 1970 to 1985....
became ill. Skånland was also a member of several public boards in this period, as well as chairman of Statistics Norway from 1981 to 1993, and board member of NTNF from 1979 to 1985 and the Nordic Investment Bank
Nordic Investment Bank
The Nordic Investment Bank is an international financial institution founded in the mid-1970s by the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. In 2005, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania became members of the Bank. NIB’s headquarters are located in Helsinki, Finland...
from 1976 to 1988. From 1994 to 2003 he was an assisting professor at the BI School of Management
Norwegian School of Management
BI Norwegian Business School former name BI Norwegian School of Management is the largest business school in Norway and the second largest in all of Europe. BI has in total 6 campuses with the main one located in Oslo.-History:...
. He has also been vice president of the Norwegian branch of UNICEF. He is a member of the Norwegian Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
.
He was decorated as a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav (1987), and held foreign orders of knighthood. He received the Fritt Ord Honorary Award in 1980, and a festschrift
Festschrift
In academia, a Festschrift , is a book honoring a respected person, especially an academic, and presented during his or her lifetime. The term, borrowed from German, could be translated as celebration publication or celebratory writing...
to him was issued in 1994.
In 1998 he was appointed as a Commander with Star of Finland's Order of the Lion
Order of the Lion
The Order of the Lion may refer to:* Order of the Lion of Finland* Order of the Netherlands Lion* Order of the Norwegian Lion* Royal Order of the Lion * Order of the Lion and the Sun of Persia* Order of the Lion...
and as a Commander with Star of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon
Order of the Falcon
The Order of the Falcon or Hin íslenska fálkaorða is a national Order of Iceland, established on July 3, 1921 by King Christian X of Denmark and Iceland.-History and appointments:...
. He received the Luxembourg Order of Merit
Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
The Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a distinguished honorary order of Luxembourg. It was instituted on January 23, 1961 by Grand Duchess Charlotte. Grandmaster of the order is the Grand Duke of Luxembourg...
(Commander) and in 1990 he was awarded the 1998 Economist Award.
Skånland died at Fagertun nursing home in Gran
Gran, Norway
is a municipality in Oppland county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Hadeland. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Jaren. There is also a village of Gran located within the municipality....
, at the age of 85. He was survived by one daughter.