Johan Norberg (born 27 August, 1973) is a Swedish author and historian devoted to promoting economic
globalizationGlobalization describes an ongoing process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a globe-spanning network of communication and exchange....
and libertarian positions. He is arguably most known as the author of
In Defense of Global CapitalismIn Defense of Global Capitalism is a book by Swedish writer Johan Norberg promoting economic globalization and free trade. The book was originally published in May 2001 by the Swedish think tank Timbro...
. Since March 15, 2007 he is a senior fellow at
Cato InstituteThe Cato Institute is a pro-free market, libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C.The Institute's stated mission is "to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free...
.
Johan Norberg was born in
Stockholm' is the capital and largest city of Sweden. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the Riksdag , and the official residence of the Swedish Monarch as well as the prime minister. The Monarch resides at Drottningholm Palace outside of Stockholm since 1980 and uses the Royal Palace of...
, the son of former Swedish National Archivist Erik Norberg and his wife Birgitta. He grew up in the suburb of
HässelbyHässelby is a part of Hässelby-Vällingby in the City of Stockholm in Sweden, comprising of the suburban areas Hässelby Gård, Hässelby Strand and Hässelby Villastad.-Hässelby in literature:...
in northern Stockholm.
My aim is freedom and voluntary relations in all fields. The market economy is the result of this in the economic realm; in the cultural realm it means freedom of expression; in politics, democracy and the rule of law; in social life, the right to live according to one's own values and to choose one's company.
Since 1965 [....] the richest fifth of the world's population increased its average income by 75 percent. For the poorest fifth of the world's population, the increase has been faster still, with average incomes more than doubling during the same period.
In the affluent world we have had capitalism in one form or another for a couple of centuries. That is how countries of the West became "the affluent world." Capitalism has given people both the liberty and the incentive to create, produce, and trade, thereby generating preosperity.
As a result of this continuous improvement of productivity through the division of labor and technical advancement, one hour's labor today is worth about 25 times more than it was in the mid-19th century [....] Growth and productivity alone are capable of raising real wages in the long run.
Johan Norberg (born 27 August, 1973) is a Swedish author and historian devoted to promoting economic
globalizationGlobalization describes an ongoing process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a globe-spanning network of communication and exchange....
and libertarian positions. He is arguably most known as the author of
In Defense of Global CapitalismIn Defense of Global Capitalism is a book by Swedish writer Johan Norberg promoting economic globalization and free trade. The book was originally published in May 2001 by the Swedish think tank Timbro...
. Since March 15, 2007 he is a senior fellow at
Cato InstituteThe Cato Institute is a pro-free market, libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C.The Institute's stated mission is "to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free...
.
Early life and education
Johan Norberg was born in
Stockholm' is the capital and largest city of Sweden. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the Riksdag , and the official residence of the Swedish Monarch as well as the prime minister. The Monarch resides at Drottningholm Palace outside of Stockholm since 1980 and uses the Royal Palace of...
, the son of former Swedish National Archivist Erik Norberg and his wife Birgitta. He grew up in the suburb of
HässelbyHässelby is a part of Hässelby-Vällingby in the City of Stockholm in Sweden, comprising of the suburban areas Hässelby Gård, Hässelby Strand and Hässelby Villastad.-Hässelby in literature:...
in northern Stockholm. In his youth, Norberg was active as an
anarchistAnarchism is a political philosophy encompassing theories and attitudes which consider the state, as compulsory government, to be unnecessary, harmful, and/or undesirable, and favors the absence of the state ....
but later abandoned those views and became a
classical liberalClassical liberalism is a political ideology that developed by the middle of the nineteenth century in England, western Europe, and the Americas, which provided a coherent vision of how society should be organized. Central to the classical liberalism of the nineteenth century is a commitment to...
. According to the biography given at his personal website, Norberg was disillusioned with the anarchist view of liberty when he discovered the
collectivistCollectivism is a term used to describe any moral, political, or social outlook, that emphasizes the interdependence of every human in some collective group and the priority of group goals over individual goals. Collectivists focus on community and society, and seek to give priority to group goals...
themes in the major anarchist works, and was unable to sympathize with the pre-industrial society which his
anarcho-primitivismAnarcho-primitivism is an anarchist critique of the origins and progress of civilization. According to anarcho-primitivism, the shift from hunter-gatherer to agricultural subsistence gave rise to social stratification, coercion, and alienation...
promoted. This realization made him embrace classical liberalism, which he felt "took freedom seriously". He studied at
Stockholm UniversityStockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 27,500 students at four faculties, being one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...
from 1992 to 1999 and earned a
M.A.A master's degree is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
with a major in the
history of ideasThe history of ideas is a field of research in history that deals with the expression, preservation, and change of human ideas over time. The history of ideas is a sister-discipline to, or a particular approach within, intellectual history...
. His other subjects included
philosophyPhilosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems concerning matters such as existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing these questions by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on reasoned...
,
literatureLiterature is the art of written works. Literally translated, the word means "acquaintance with letters" , and therefore the academic study of literature is known as Letters...
and
political sciencePolitical science is a social science concerned with the theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political systems and political behavior. It is often described as the pragmatic application of the art and science of politics defined as "who gets what, when and how",...
. During his time at Stockholm University he was active in the libertarian network Frihetsfronten ("the Freedom Front") and was the editor of its journal
Nyliberalen ("The Neoliberal"/"The Libertarian") from 1993 to 1997.
Career
In 1997, Norberg was contacted by the Swedish liberal think tank
TimbroTimbro is a libertarian, free market think tank and book publisher based in Stockholm, Sweden, that works to influence legislation and public opinion...
, who invited him to write a book about the Swedish author
Vilhelm MobergVilhelm Moberg was a Swedish author and historian, most commonly associated with his four novels known as The Emigrants Series.-Early life:...
. The book,
Motståndsmannen Vilhelm Moberg, sold well and sparked much debate which allowed him to write another book, on the history of
Swedish liberalismThis article gives an overview of liberalism and centrism in Sweden. It is limited to liberal and centrist parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ denotes another party in that scheme...
. This book,
Den svenska liberalismens historia, also became a success and in 1999 Norberg joined the permanent staff of Timbro. From 1999 to 2002 he was assistant editor-in-chief of the webzine Smedjan.com. In 1999 he started the website Frihandel.nu to put the case for
free tradeFree trade is a type of trade policy that allows traders to act and transact without interference from government. According to the law of comparative advantage the policy permits trading partners mutual gains from trade of goods and services....
and open economies.
Having participated in a number of debates against the Swedish
anti-globalizationCriticism of globalization is skepticism of the claimed benefits of the globalization of capitalism. Many of these views are held by the anti-globalization movement however other groups also are critical of the policies of globalization....
movement, in May 2001 he released the book
In Defense of Global CapitalismIn Defense of Global Capitalism is a book by Swedish writer Johan Norberg promoting economic globalization and free trade. The book was originally published in May 2001 by the Swedish think tank Timbro...
where he assembles his arguments for
globalizationGlobalization describes an ongoing process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a globe-spanning network of communication and exchange....
and free trade. In 2002 the book was selected for the Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award by the
Atlas Economic Research FoundationThe Atlas Economic Research Foundation was founded in 1981 by Antony Fisher. After having founded the Institute of Economic Affairs in London in 1955, Fisher had helped in the establishment of the Fraser Institute, the Manhattan Institute and the Pacific Research Institute in the 1970s...
and in 2003 Norberg was awarded the gold medal of the German Hayek Stiftung (an award shared with former British Prime Minister
Margaret ThatcherMargaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. She is the only woman to have held either post....
and the German economist
Otmar IssingOtmar Issing is a German economist, former member of the board of the Deutsche Bundesbank and of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank . He developed the 'two pillar' approach to monetary policy decision making that the ECB has adopted.His book Der Euro...
). The British
Channel 4Channel 4 is a UK public-service television broadcaster which began working on November 2, 1982. Although commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station owned now and operated by the Channel Four Television...
also invited him to present the
documentary filmDocumentary film is a broad category of visual expressions that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to "document" reality. Although "documentary film" originally referred to movies shot on film stock, it has subsequently expanded to include video and digital productions that can...
Globalisation is GoodGlobalisation is Good is a 2003 documentary film written and presented by Johan Norberg and produced by Freeform Productions for British Channel 4. The film is based on Norberg's much celebrated book In Defense of Global Capitalism that shows the impact of globalisation, and the consequences of...
(released in 2003), which is based on his book.
From 2002 to 2005, Norberg was head of political ideas at Timbro. From 2006 to 2007 he was a Senior Fellow with the
BrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the de facto capital city of the European Union and the largest urban area in Belgium...
-based think tank
Centre for the New EuropeThe Centre for the New Europe is a free-market think tank based in Brussels, and focused on EU issues such as economic growth, managing environmental change, health and welfare policy, competition policy, and innovation. It was founded in 1993 by the Flemish journalist Paul Belien and the Flemish...
.
Since March 15, 2007 he is a Senior Fellow at the
Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C. , formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States, founded on July 16, 1790...
-based
Cato InstituteThe Cato Institute is a pro-free market, libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C.The Institute's stated mission is "to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free...
. He is also a member of the international
Mont Pelerin SocietyThe Mont Pelerin Society is an international organization composed of economists, intellectuals, business leaders, and others who favour classical liberalism; the society advocates free market economic policies and the political values of an open society. The Mont Pelerin Society was created on 10...
.
Personal life
Norberg is married to
Sofia NerbrandChristina Sofia Nerbrand, born September 16, 1973 in Stockholm, is a Swedish journalist. She is CEO and editor in chief for Neo, a classical liberal magazine that she founded in 2006. Sofia Nerbrand also has a column at the op-ed page in Svenska Dagbladet. Sofia Nerbrand is married to Johan Norberg...
, CEO and editor-in-chief of the liberal magazine
Neo. The couple's marriage was solemnized by former leader of the
Liberal People's PartyThe Liberal People's Party is a political party in Sweden. The party advocates social liberalism and is part of the governing centre-right bloc Alliance for Sweden, which achieved a majority in the general election of 17 September 2006. The party is currently the fourth largest party in the Riksdag...
,
Per AhlmarkPer Axel Ahlmark is a Swedish writer and former politician. He was the leader of the Liberal People's Party from 1975 to 1978, and Minister for Employment and Deputy Prime Minister in the Swedish government from 1976 to 1978...
, and they have one son, Alexander, born in 2007.
Norberg is also a fan of the science fiction series
Star TrekStar Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series.The original Star Trek was an American television series, created by Gene Roddenberry, which debuted in 1966 and ran for three seasons, following the interstellar adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Federation...
, writing that he "would never dream of missing an episode", and is a member of the fan club Stockholm Trekkers.
Books
Awards and honors
- Sir Antony Fisher
Sir Antony Fisher was one of the most influential background players in the global rise of libertarian think-tanks during the second half of the twentieth century, founding the Institute of Economic Affairs and the Atlas Economic Research Foundation. Through Atlas, he helped establish up to 150...
International Memorial Award from the Atlas Economic Research FoundationThe Atlas Economic Research Foundation was founded in 1981 by Antony Fisher. After having founded the Institute of Economic Affairs in London in 1955, Fisher had helped in the establishment of the Fraser Institute, the Manhattan Institute and the Pacific Research Institute in the 1970s...
, for the book In Defense of Global Capitalism (2002).
- Prize of the Sture Lindmark Foundation for Public Debate, for opinion formation for free trade (May 2002).
- Gold medal of the Friedrich August von Hayek
Friedrich August von Hayek CH , was an Austrian and British economist and philosopher known for his defense of classical liberalism and free-market capitalism against socialist and collectivist thought. He is considered by some to be one of the most important economists and political philosophers...
Stiftung, shared with former British Prime Minister Margaret ThatcherMargaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990 and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 to 1990. She is the only woman to have held either post....
and ECBThe European Central Bank is one of the world's most important central banks, responsible for monetary policy covering the 16 member States of the Eurozone. It was established by the European Union in 1998 with its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany.-History:Technically the predecessor to the ECB...
Chief Economist Otmar IssingOtmar Issing is a German economist, former member of the board of the Deutsche Bundesbank and of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank . He developed the 'two pillar' approach to monetary policy decision making that the ECB has adopted.His book Der Euro...
(2003). http://www.hayek-stiftung.de/
- Voted Sweden's best blogger by the readers of the magazine Internetworld
Internetworld is a Swedish magazine that focuses on the Internet and business surrounding it. It is published by IDG. Internetworld has since 1997 annually ranked Sweden's 100 best websites, this list is the most respected website ranking in Sweden....
(2005).
- Curt Nicolin Memorial Award from the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise
The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise is a major interest organisation for business and industry in Sweden. It has 48 member associations representing close to 55.000 member companies with more than 1.5 million employees....
(2006).
- James Joyce Award
The James Joyce Award is an award given by the Literary and Historical Society of University College Dublin for those who have achieved outstanding success in their given field...
(2007) from the Literary and Historical Society of University College Dublin
External links