Øystein turns 60!
The Rector turns 60 on 27 June this year.
Øystein Thøgersen, or Thøgers, as the students fondly call him, has been rector of NHH Norwegian School of Economics since August 2017 and is now approaching the end of his second (and final) term as the school's spearhead.
He took over a school that was in good condition and left it in even better condition. Øystein has upgraded his car fleet from Audi to Porsche, and you could say that in many ways he has done the same with NHH.
Øystein has had a long career at NHH, but he started his studies at (archrival) BI Norwegian Business School, where he completed his Siviløkonom-degree in 1988. In 1990, he travelled over the mountains to Bergen, where he took the Høyere Avdeling-exam before completing his doctorate in economics in 1995. Øystein was then employed as a researcher at Social and Business Research (SNF) from 1995 to 1999.
Øystein’s professional career at NHH began in 1999. He was appointed associate professor at the Department of Economics, where he later became a professor in 2004. Here he served as head of department from 2009 to 2013 and contributed greatly to building up the department to become a modern and strong academic environment of the highest international standard. He held an endowed professorship from DNB from 2011 to 2017.
Øystein's field of expertise is macroeconomics. He practices this with great enthusiasm and insight, sprinkled with a good portion of humor. He built up several courses, including Business Cycle Analysis, to become "blockbusters". Thøgers was a very popular lecturer, and students flocked to his courses. He was the first lecturer to be awarded the master's students' award for outstanding efforts.
Øystein always shares his insight with a good portion of humour, such as when he compares economic cycles to the smile of the Mona Lisa or explain how Bruce Willis in the Die Hard 3 movie can provide insight into economic contexts. Many of us know about Øystein’s interest in cars – or, rather, fast cars. If he hadn't become a professor, a role in the Fast & Furious movies might have suited him well. Øystein also had a promising orienteering career, and there are now rumours that he is aiming for a career as a cyclist and perhaps the most remarkable thing - he has become a real Brann supporter.
Øystein's knowledge of and insight into macroeconomics have also benefited us all. His expertise has been highly sought after. Among other things, he was a member of Norges Bank's Executive Board from 2004 to 2009, and in 2015 he chaired the expert committee that investigated the implementation of the fiscal rule (Handlingsregelen). He has also chaired two government expert committees, one in 2015 on fiscal policy in a petroleum economy and one in 2018 on energy stocks in the Government Pension Fund Global.
Øystein is a highly valued leader and colleague at NHH. He has an impressive work capacity, and the values of the school – quality culture, high ethical standards and dedication to common goals – really characterize his work as rector. Øystein's contribution to the school, to the management, and to everyone who otherwise studies here, is substantial and of great importance. We warmly congratulate him on his 60th birthday.
Kurt R. Brekke, Frode Sættem, Stig Tenold and all colleagues at NHH