Hilde C. Bjørnland wins BI’s Research Dissemination and Societal Impact Award

“I am very grateful and honoured to receive this award, which I see as a recognition not only of research itself, but of the vital next step, ensuring our knowledge reaches outward to benefit society. While important, this work is also time-consuming and only possible thanks to my many colleagues who refine ideas and the support of BI Norwegian Business School,” says Bjørnland.

She is Professor of Economics at BI, and her main area of research is within applied macroeconomics and time series.

Hilde C. Bjørnland with jury member Ingunn Myrtveit at the award ceremony.

The jury describes Bjørnland as “one of Norway’s bravest and most influential voices in macroeconomics. Politicians and public decision-makers pay close attention to what she has to say, as do companies, civil society organizations and indeed the public at large through her frequent appearances on TV and in other media.”

The award is presented every two years to a researcher who has demonstrated exceptional ability to communicate research to a broader audience and influence society. Candidates are nominated by colleagues, and the final decision is made by a jury composed of representatives from academia, industry, media, and BI’s student organisation. 

A career of impact

Bjørnland’s work has been published in leading international journals and has had a tangible impact on economic policy both in Norway and abroad. The jury highlighted one example to illustrate her influence: “In an ongoing debate in Dagens Næringsliv, representatives from both Statistics Norway and Norges Bank used her research to support their arguments.”

She has also been a member of a wide range of committees, commissions, boards, and other bodies in Norway and abroad. Recent examples include the Finnish Economic Policy Council, the Norwegian government commission appointed to assess the Financial Supervisory Act and activities, the Climate Change Commission, and the expert group that evaluated the economic consequences of COVID-19 for Norway.

"Economics plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing the challenges societies face. As an applied macroeconomist, I’m interested in developing models and frameworks that inform policy—and, in turn, learning from policy challenges to initiate new research. I’ve benefited greatly from working with researchers and policymakers in central banks and ministries, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of that exchange, both in Norway and internationally,” says Bjørnland.