Piketty attracted a record-breaking audience

Professor Thomas Piketty, often described as a rock star economist, gave this year´s The Sandmo Lecture On Public Policy at NHH on Friday last week. Close to 300 guests wanted to join the Sandmo Lecture. Photo: Helge Skodvin
Professor Thomas Piketty, often described as a rock star economist, gave this year´s The Sandmo Lecture On Public Policy at NHH on Friday. Close to 300 guests wanted to join the Sandmo Lecture. Photo: Helge Skodvin
By Sigrid Folkestad

11 June 2023 14:42

Piketty attracted a record-breaking audience

`Historically, we see a movement towards greater economic and political equality. I believe there is reason to be optimistic, said Thomas Piketty, giving this year's Sandmo Lecture at NHH.

`In my book "A Brief History of Equality", the important conclusion is that we see a movement towards more political and economic equality´.

Thomas Piketty received a gift from moderator Professor Kjell Gunnar Salvanes. And among the audience; Robert Næss (Nordea) and researcher Ole-Andreas Elvik Næss.
Thomas Piketty received a gift from moderator Professor Kjell Gunnar Salvanes. And among the audience; Robert Næss (Nordea) and researcher Ole-Andreas Elvik Næss. Photo: Helge Skodvin

Professor Thomas Piketty, often described as a rock star economist, gave this year´s The Sandmo Lecture On Public Policy at NHH on Friday. The lecture is an annual event in honor of NHH Professor Agnar Sandmo (1938-2019), for his contribution to the field of public finance.

`It is of course not perfect, but in the long run, starting at the end of the 18th century, especially in France, but also in the USA, and up to today, we see major changes in the right direction´, summarized Piketty.

During his lecture, Piketty talked about his new book, “A Brief History of Equality”. He and Salvanes mingled with the audience before the presentation started.
During his lecture, Piketty talked about his new book, “A Brief History of Equality”. He and Salvanes mingled with the audience before the presentation started. Photo: Helge Skodvin

Piketty´s research and his books Capital in the Twenty-First Century (2013) and Capital and Ideology (2019) focuses on public economy, in particular income and wealth inequality. 

`I am very happy that Piketty was able to give the Sandmo lecture´, says Professor Kjell Gunnar Salvanes, who is himself an expert on inequality, education and labor market economics. He is a researcher at Centre for Experimental Research on Fairness, Inequality and Rationality (FAIR) at NHH.

A number of journalists interviewed Piketty after the lecture.
A number of journalists interviewed Piketty after the lecture. Photo: Helge Skodvin

Close to 300 guests wanted to join the Sandmo Lecture. No surprise, according to Salvanes:

`Over the years, NHH have had several leading economists who have given the Sandmo Lecture, such as Nobel Prize winner James Heckman, but Piketty has a name far outside economists' circles. We knew that Piketty would be of great interest´.

Piketty is a professor of economics at the School for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences and the École d’économie de Paris/Paris School of Economics.