Heløe, Leif Arne

When Leif Arne Heløe came to NIBR on a part-time research engagement in 2000, it was after ten years as County Governor for the county of Troms in Northern Norway. He wished to use his expertise in local government and place development. At NIBR he has worked on several projects that have investigated municipal structure and organisation of central government at the regional level. This work has also involved studies of municipal amalgamation, the effect of which on place development can be highly significant. From his work as County Governor Leif Arne Heløe is used to studying analyses of habitation, migration patterns and business development under conditions of growth and decline, especially in rural municipalities. Heløe is a qualified dentist from the University of Oslo (1956) and has a PhD from the same university for a thesis based on epidemiology, social studies and social security studies. He has been professor of social odontology at the University of Oslo (1975–81 and 1986–88), minister of health and social affairs (1981–86) and director general of the Norwegian Research Council (1988-91).

Key qualifications

• Public policy and administration
• Public health
• Health and welfare politics
• Welfare state
• Regional politics and development