Hans Ellefsen wins award for bringing research into public debate

Economist Hans Ellefsen has received the Faroese Research Council’s annual media award for his contribution to public debate, KVF reports.

Ellefsen, a lecturer and vice-dean at the University of the Faroe Islands, says research should reach beyond academic journals and become part of public discussion. “The common good is about creating as much value as possible while also looking at how that value is distributed,” he said.

The award citation noted that Ellefsen has for years been a prominent expert voice in debates about fisheries economics, maintaining his professional conclusions even when they run counter to strong interests.

Ellefsen said he would change his conclusions if shown that his calculations were wrong, but would not do so simply because someone disliked them. He has focused particularly on resource rents and the value of the Faroe Islands’ natural resources. He believes society could gain much more from its fishing wealth and has previously estimated that substantial value goes uncollected each year as resource rent, or a fee for access to the resource.

“We have incredibly valuable natural resources, but we have not found a good enough system for distributing their value,” he said.

In an interview with the radio programme Good Morning Faroe Islands, Ellefsen also discussed why he chose economics, how fisheries became his area of expertise and what keeps him participating in public debate despite sometimes sharp and personal exchanges.