Research Group of Business Management and Economics

Photo of hand with pen on a sheet with graphs

We are an interdisciplinary research group, which constitutes USN expertise within finance, accounting-, auditing - and economic analysis.

The research group has two subgroups, business and economics, and it aims to highlight the close links that exist between these two disciplines. The approaches to the problems are both theoretical and empirical.

Compared to other business school profiles, the focus areas within this field will be more analytical.

Research areas

The field of interest is extensive, including:

Financial management, accounting and auditing

Financial Accounting, Accounting Principles, Accounting Analysis, Budgeting,
Strategic Financial Management, Financial Management Tools (balanced scorecard, Benchmarking, Lean, etc.), Cost Management, Risk Management

Management control system

Management control systems, management control package, auditing, digitization in accounting and auditing, behavioral aspect of accounting change

Behavioral economics

Labor Market, Risk Management, Trust and Networks, Ethical Investment

Economic development

Innovation, Productivity and Efficiency analyses, Resource Economics, Development Economics, Regional Development, Institutional Change, Management Fashion Theory, Educational Economics

Economic policy, public finances and economic organization

Labor Markets, Cultural Policy, Local Government, Institutional Changes, Macroeconomics, Network, Supply Chain Management and Regulations.

Ongoing projects

Development of Norwegian accounting regulation

Members of the research group regularly contribute to the development of Norwegian accounting regulation. Tonny Stenheim and Kjell Magne Baksaas were editors of a special issue of the Norwegian journal “Magma Tidsskrift for økonomi og ledelse nr 1-2019” with the topic Accounting and Tax. Accounting law and accounting standards are changing. The R&D projects contribute to the Norwegian accounting debate and various consultation processes. In addition, USN professionals have had and have key roles in these processes.

Topics in accounting and auditing

Several of the members of the research group are working on a scientific book. The book has contributions within:

  • Part 1: Financial statements
  • Part 2: Other perspectives (internal accounting, auditing and expanded reporting which include reporting on sustainability and corporate social responsibility)
Growth barometer for the Ringeriksregion

The growth barometer for the Ringeriksregion is a collaborative project with a local savings bank (Sparebank1 Ringerike Hadeland) and the local chamber of commerce (Ringerike Næringsforening). Through various FOUI activities, relevant indicators of growth and development in the Ringeriksregion is provided. An annual status report and webpage constitute the main delivery in the 5 yearly project.

Income inequality and trust

Trust is an important resource for a society and for an economy. Trade, division of labor and specialization become easier if people keep their word and we can trust each other. The goal of this project is to investigate empirically the interaction between general trust and income inequality. We regard trust both as a result of and a reason for small income differences. Small income differences create trust, and trust is reflected in small income differences through an expansion of the welfare state. How strong are these effects and to what extent can they help explain differences in trust levels and income inequality across countries?

Nash-equilibria, Economic performance, Social costs and Public policy

In many situations there is a rivalry for attention and/or attraction. An important area of such rivalries is market communication, advertising in particular, which often goes far beyond pure product and price information. This project focuses on Nash equilibria and measurement of social costs associated with such advertising.