Scandinavia, Economics in

Abstract

Scandinavia includes in a narrow sense Denmark, Norway and Sweden, which have similar languages and have strongly influenced one another. Nevertheless, it is possible to distinguish different histories of learning. Danish economists made early contributions to neoclassical distribution theory, econometric analysis and multiplier theory. Like most economists from small-language communities they understood the major European languages but wrote in their domestic languages, which delayed international knowledge about their contributions. In Norway Ragnar Frisch revolutionized economics in the 1930s, but met opposition from colleagues. Swedish economics flourished in the early 20th century with Knut Wicksell and Gustav Cassel and later with the Stockholm School. In recent decades national traits have largely disappeared.