Ingvar Wedervang
Encyclopedia
Ingvar Brynhjulf Wedervang (July 21, 1891 – December 4, 1961) was a Norwegian
economist
and statistician
.
He graduated from the University of Oslo
with a degree in economics in 1913. During the next nine years, he worked first as a government statistician with Statistics Norway
, then for the private company Treschow-Fritzøe, and again for a government agency. In 1922 he moved to Munich
and continued his studies. He returned to Statistics Norway in 1923 and received his doctorate in 1925 with a dissertation on the sex proportion at birth and infant mortality
. Wedervang became lecturer at the University of Oslo in 1925 and was appointed professor of economics and statistics in June 1926.
In 1930 Wedervang was among the sixteen founding members of the Econometric Society
.
As a professor Wedervang lectured on applied economics
, social and economic statistics, and demography
. Wedervang belonged firmly to the school of empirically oriented Norwegian economists in the tradition of Anton Martin Schweigaard. His work in the 1920s comprised an estimate of national income in Norway and some articles on trade problems. Wedervang did not publish in German
or English
and was therefore hardly known outside Scandinavia
.
Professor Wedervang worked also actively for the establishment of the Norwegian School of Economics in Bergen
and served as the school's first rector
from 1936 to December 31, 1956. His tenure was only interrupted by the German occupation of Norway when he was removed from his position due to patriotic attitude, and incarcerated in a concentration camp.
In 1947 he was appointed Commander of the Order of St. Olav and Officer of the French Légion d'honneur
.
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
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
and statistician
Statistician
A statistician is someone who works with theoretical or applied statistics. The profession exists in both the private and public sectors. The core of that work is to measure, interpret, and describe the world and human activity patterns within it...
.
He graduated from the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
with a degree in economics in 1913. During the next nine years, he worked first as a government statistician with 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...
, then for the private company Treschow-Fritzøe, and again for a government agency. In 1922 he moved to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
and continued his studies. He returned to Statistics Norway in 1923 and received his doctorate in 1925 with a dissertation on the sex proportion at birth and infant mortality
Infant mortality
Infant mortality is defined as the number of infant deaths per 1000 live births. Traditionally, the most common cause worldwide was dehydration from diarrhea. However, the spreading information about Oral Re-hydration Solution to mothers around the world has decreased the rate of children dying...
. Wedervang became lecturer at the University of Oslo in 1925 and was appointed professor of economics and statistics in June 1926.
In 1930 Wedervang was among the sixteen founding members of the Econometric Society
Econometric Society
The Econometric Society is an international society for the advancement of economic theory in its relation with statistics and mathematics. It was founded on December 29, 1930 at the Stalton Hotel in Cleveland, Ohio....
.
As a professor Wedervang lectured on applied economics
Applied economics
Applied economics is a term that refers to the application of economic theory and analysis. While not a field of economics, it is typically characterized by the application of economic theory and econometrics to address practical issues in a range of fields including labour economics, industrial...
, social and economic statistics, and demography
Demography
Demography is the statistical study of human population. It can be a very general science that can be applied to any kind of dynamic human population, that is, one that changes over time or space...
. Wedervang belonged firmly to the school of empirically oriented Norwegian economists in the tradition of Anton Martin Schweigaard. His work in the 1920s comprised an estimate of national income in Norway and some articles on trade problems. Wedervang did not publish in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
or English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and was therefore hardly known outside Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
.
Professor Wedervang worked also actively for the establishment of the Norwegian School of Economics in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
and served as the school's first rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
from 1936 to December 31, 1956. His tenure was only interrupted by the German occupation of Norway when he was removed from his position due to patriotic attitude, and incarcerated in a concentration camp.
In 1947 he was appointed Commander of the Order of St. Olav and Officer of the French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
.