Martin Bech Holte

Author

The Country That Became Too Rich

Martin Bech Holte is one of Norway’s sharpest economists, with experience both as a researcher and a leader in the business sector. He has led McKinsey & Co. in Norway and served as a director at Aker, and with this unique combination of academic weight and insight into the power centers of the economy, he is able to put complex relationships into a larger perspective.

In January 2025, he published the book “The Country That Became Too Rich,” which quickly became a bestseller and a hot topic of discussion. The book poses the burning question: Why are the economic indicators pointing downwards in Norway, a country that in 2013 was a world leader in prosperity, health, and happiness? Holte warns of stagnation but also points the way back to sustainable growth – and challenges Norwegian leaders and politicians to find the strength to act in time.