A lecture with the Nobel Prize laureate

Thursday 8 September was devoted to the new honorary doctors. First, there was a symposium in the main hall, followed by lectures in the small auditoriums. Not surprisingly, one of the most popular lectures was the one given by Finn E Kydland, which took place in the auditorium bearing the professor's name.

09.09.2011 - Espen Bolghaug

Fifteen minutes before Professor Kydland started his lecture, the room was already almost completely packed by both students and academic staff. The title of the lecture was 'Policy Consistency', and the Nobel Prize laureate's lecture was both informative and accessible for the average NHH student.

Praised NHH

NHH has honoured Finn E Kydland by awarding him the title of honorary doctor, but it was Professor Kydland's turn to praise NHH during his lecture.

'NHH has been very important to my academic career, and I am very happy that I was here at the school when I learnt about the Nobel Prize,' said Professor Kydland.

He referred to the fact that when he learnt that he was nominated for what is perhaps the greatest award an economist can ever hope to receive, he was giving a lecture to NHH students.

'Actually, I was standing in this exact spot,' Professor Kydland continued.

Following the nomination, the name of the auditorium was changed to the Finn Kydland Auditorium.

Planned to become a business executive

When Finn Kydland arrived at NHH in the mid-1960s, it was not macroeconomics and financial policy that occupied his mind.

'My plan was to become a business executive, and I knew nothing about economics before I started my studies here. Luckily, I met people who showed me the really interesting topics. If it hadn't been for them, I would probably have a very boring job today,' Professor Kydland concluded.