Major Grant for Tax Research

The project will be carried out in close collaboration with the University of Stavanger and combines big data, legal expertise, and field experiments in real-life situations.

The goal is to expose tricks that cost society billions and provide authorities with tools for better enforcement and simpler rules. The project places particular emphasis on strengthening young researchers.

A Strong Recognition

Rector Solve Sæbø sees the grant as an important signal of the relevance of NMBU’s research:

— We are very proud that Skatteforsk at NMBU has received this significant grant from the Research Council’s program for top-level research. This is a strong recognition of their work to build bridges between research and policy and to contribute to fact-based public debate on taxation, inequality, and societal development. Congratulations to Annette Alstadsæter and the entire team! You are putting NMBU on the map as a leading environment for economic and socially relevant research, he says.

Leading Researchers with Big Ambitions

The initiative is led by Annette Alstadsæter, head of Skatteforsk at NMBU, in collaboration with Benn Folkvord, professor of tax law at the University of Stavanger.

The grant makes it possible to pursue research that is not only theoretical but developed in dialogue with users and policymakers. The new research environment will place great emphasis on dissemination and contribute to a more knowledge-based public debate.

Annette Alstadsæter highlights how the grant supports future researchers:

— This grant gives us the opportunity to build on our research and create an even stronger and long-term environment for high-quality research. I am particularly proud that we can use this funding to invest more in younger researchers. This way, we can build lasting knowledge and achieve long-term improvements in society.

Benn Folkvord emphasizes that better understanding of the interplay between economics and law can prevent wasting resources:

— We cannot view law and legislation in isolation from the economy and the reality we live in. We want to uncover the unintended consequences of tax rules, how some try to circumvent them, and how regulations and administration can be improved. A better tax system can reduce wasting and inefficient use of resources, he says.