Espen Ekberg is Professor of Economic History and the current Head of the Centre for Business History (CBH) at BI. Ekberg holds a Master's degree in Sociology and a Ph.D. (Dr.polit) in Economic History, both from the University of Oslo.
His main research interests include financial history, maritime history, the history of retailing and historiography. He has published several books, book chapters as well as articles in leading journals such as Business History, Journal of Global History and International Journal of Maritime History.
Ekberg is the current President of the Scandinavian Society for Economic and Social History. From 2019-2022 he was Editor-in-Chief of the Scandinavian Economic History Review (with Fransisco Beltrán Tapia, NTNU). He previously held a position as researcher and associate professsor at the Centre for Business History (2012-2018) and as Post doctoral research fellow at the University of Agder/University of Oslo (2009-2012).
Ekberg, Espen; Webster, Anthony, Wilson, John & Skurnik, Samuli (2023)
Themes, lessons and further research
Wilson, John; Webster, Anthony, Ekberg, Espen & Skurnik, Samuli (red.). The Consumer Co-operative Sector. International Perspectives on Strategic Renewal
Ekberg, Espen; Wilson, John, Webster, Anthony & Skurnik, Samuli (2023)
Strategic renewal in the consumer co-operative sector: An international study
Wilson, John; Webster, Anthony, Ekberg, Espen & Skurnik, Samuli (red.). The Consumer Co-operative Sector. International Perspectives on Strategic Renewal
Globally, consumer co-operation has experienced a difficult half century since the 1970s. Large-scale failures in France, Germany and Austria were accompanied by a loss of market share in the UK (including the failure of the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society and takeover by its English counterpart). Although for many decades, strategy scholars have analysed the processes of change that an organization might undergo as it deals with competitive challenges, only recently have scholars come to use the term ‘strategic renewal’. It is clear that where ambitious and creative strategic renewal policies have been enacted, co-operative retailing is capable of not only surviving but even flourishing, in spite of the highly competitive nature of retailing in general. On the other hand, we need to understand the nature of these responses to a highly challenging environment and the reasons why in some cases strategic renewal was not as successful as in other cases.
Ekberg, Espen & Merok, Eivind (2023)
When strategic renewal fails: 25 years of continuous losses at a large Norwegian consumer co-op, 1990-2014
Wilson, John; Webster, Anthony, Ekberg, Espen & Skurnik, Samuli (red.). The Consumer Co-operative Sector. International Perspectives on Strategic Renewal
This chapter studies some obstacles to successful strategic renewal in consumer co-operative organisations. It does so by investigating the economic and strategic development of the largest consumer co-operative society in Norway – Coop Øst (Coop East) – in the period from 1990 to 2014. During this period, Coop Øst failed to reap the economic benefits of a major – and largely successful – strategic change taking place in the national consumer co-operative movement, instead experiencing major economic losses as well as decline in market shares. The paper investigates what prevented Coop Øst from reaping the fruits of the same strategic changes which had laid the foundation for sustained competitiveness nationally, and what this discrepancy might mean for our understanding of strategic renewal as a tool to understand development and change in consumer cooperative organizations.
By discussing the creation and subsequent failure of Coop Norden, set up by the Scandinavian consumer co-operatives in 2002 as a common wholesale and food retail enterprise, this article provides insights into the nature of the Scandinavian food retail sector and co-operative enterprises in an era of globalisation. The article combines recent research on the globalisation of retailing with the academic literature on the economic position and development of consumer co-operative enterprises. The article concludes that the failure of Coop Norden can be seen as the natural consequence of two inherent problems: 1. A flawed vision among co-operative managers on how globalisation would impact retailing and 2. A misalignment between Danish, Norwegian and Swedish co-operative agendas. The article is based on comprehensive studies of the internal co-operative archives in Denmark and Norway.
The current state of Nordic business history is by certain estimates better than ever. Nordic business historians publish extensively in leading international journals and have a strong presence at international business history conferences. Still, in this discussion article we raise a yellow flag of warning for the future of Nordic business history. We argue that the subject field is challenged along three important dimensions: (i) lack of relevant teaching, (ii) continued reliance on commissioned history and (iii) limited recruitment. The article discusses these challenges and seeks to place them in a historical perspective. For each challenge, we develop a set of concrete proposals to address the problems identified. A common theme in our proposed solutions is to intensify Nordic collaboration, particularly through the establishment of common, externally funded Nordic research projects. To create meeting grounds for the development of such projects, The Scandinavian Society for Economic and Social History – the formal collaborative body for Nordic economic historians and the owner of Scandinavian Economic History Review – should be reinvigorated.
Ekberg, Espen (2017)
Against the tide: Understanding the Commercial Success of Nordic Consumer Co-operatives, 1945-2010
Hilson, Mary; Neunsinger, Silke & Patmore, Greg (red.). A Global History of Consumer Co-operation since 1850
Organization: top down or bottom up? The organizational development of consumer co-operatives, 1950-2000
Battilani, Patricia & Schröter, Harm G. (red.). The Cooperative Business Movement. 1950 to the present
Ekberg, Espen; Lange, Even & Merok, Eivind (2012)
Building the networks of trade: Perspectives on twentieth century maritime history
Harlaftis, Gelina; Tenold, Stig & Valdaliso, Jesus M (red.). The World's Key Industry - History and Economics of International Shipping
Ekberg, Espen (2012)
Nordic shipping: A statistical overview
Tenold, Stig; Iversen, Martin Jes & Lange, Even (red.). Global shipping in small nations: nordic experiences after 1960
Ekberg, Espen (2011)
The Growth of the Deep-Sea Car-Carrying Industry, 1960-2008
Fischer, Lewis Ross & Lange, Even (red.). New directions in Norwegian maritime history
Ekberg, Espen & Merok, Eivind (2009)
Norwegian Shipping in the Port of Liverpool, 1855-1895: Niche Specialization and Anglo-Norwegian Networks
International Journal of Maritime History, XXI(2), s. 221- 239.
Ekberg, Espen (2009)
Consumer Co-operation and the Transformation of Modern Food Retailing: The British and Norwegian Consumer Co-operative Movement in Comparison, 1950-2002
Black, Lawrence & Robertson, Nicole (red.). Consumerism and the Co-operative Movement in Modern British History. Taking Stock
Lange, Even; Ekberg, Espen & Merok, Eivind (2006)
Vekst og forbrukerpolitisk radikalisering
Lange, Even (red.). Organisert kjøpekraft. Forbrukersamvirkets historie i Norge
Ekberg, Espen & Vatnaland, Jon (2006)
Butikkene i sentrum!
Lange, Even (red.). Organisert kjøpekraft. Forbrukersamvirkets historie i Norge
Ekberg, Espen & Vatnaland, Jon (2006)
Optimisme, ekspansjon og kollaps
Lange, Even (red.). Organisert kjøpekraft. Forbrukersamvirkets historie i Norge
Ekberg, Espen & Vatnaland, Jon (2006)
Krise og ny vekst
Lange, Even (red.). Organisert kjøpekraft. Forbrukersamvirkets historie i Norge
Ekberg, Espen & Vatnaland, Jon (2006)
Kjededrift og maktkamp mot produsentene
Lange, Even (red.). Organisert kjøpekraft. Forbrukersamvirkets historie i Norge
Ekberg, Espen & Vatnaland, Jon (2006)
Medlemsutvikling, deltaktelse og demokrati
Lange, Even (red.). Organisert kjøpekraft. Forbrukersamvirkets historie i Norge
Ekberg, Espen & Vatnaland, Jon (2006)
Ekspansjonsiver og styringsproblemer
Lange, Even (red.). Organisert kjøpekraft. Forbrukersamvirkets historie i Norge
Ekberg, Espen & Vatnaland, Jon (2006)
Visjonen om Norden
Lange, Even (red.). Organisert kjøpekraft. Forbrukersamvirkets historie i Norge
Ekberg, Espen; Wilson, John, Webster, Anthony & Skurnik, Samuli (2023)
Consumer co-operation around the world: ‘Strategic renewal’ since 1980?
[Article in business/trade/industry journal]. Journal of Co-operative Studies, 56(2), s. 35- 40.
Ekberg, Espen (2018)
To containerise or not to containerise? Norwegian shipping companies and the container revolution, 1960-2000
[Academic lecture]. The European Business History Conference.
Ekberg, Espen & Jensen, Kristoffer (2017)
The non-globalisation of modern food retailing: the case of the failed Coop Norden merger
[Academic lecture]. Nordiske historikermøde 2017.
Ekberg, Espen (2017)
Finansialisering på norsk
[Academic lecture]. Norske historiedager 2017.
Ekberg, Espen (2015)
Consumer co-operatives in the Nordic countries. Why have they been so succesfull?
[Academic lecture]. Rethinking History at Business Schools. Seminar series at Copenhagen Business School.
Ekberg, Espen (2015)
From national fire insurance to international reinsurane. The internationalisation of the Norwegian insurance company Stoebrand during the intewar years.
[Academic lecture]. Det svenska ekonomisk historiska mötet.
Ekberg, Espen (2012)
Consumer Co-operatives in the Nordic region, 1950-2010
[Academic lecture]. Mainstreaming Co-operation: An Alternative for the 21st Century?.
Ekberg, Espen (2012)
Consumer co-operatives in the Nordic countries, 1950-2010
[Academic lecture]. Towards a global history of the consumer movement.
Ekberg, Espen (2012)
To containerise or not to containerise? Norwegian shipping companies and the container revolution, 1960-2000
[Academic lecture]. 6th International Conference of Maritime History.
Ekberg, Espen (2011)
The foray of Norwegian shipowners into car carrier shipping, 1960-2008
[Academic lecture]. Shipping Revolutions after the Second World War.
Ekberg, Espen & Iversen, Martin Jes (2010)
Global Shipping – Is there a Nordic model? A comparative research project on Nordic shipping, 1960-2010
[Popular scientific article]. Mercator. Maritime Economics and Policy, s. 266- 269.
Ekberg, Espen (2010)
Organisation: top down or bottom up? The organisational development of consumer co-operatives
[Academic lecture]. International Colloquium in Business History.
Ekberg, Espen (2010)
Ut av krise: Spesialisering og markedsutvikling i norsk skipsfart: 1970-2010
[Academic lecture]. Nye perspektiver på norsk skipsfartshistorie.
Ekberg, Espen & Merok, Eivind (2010)
Partners in World Trade: Anglo-Norwegian shipping networks, 1855-1905
[Academic lecture]. Britain and Norway: Contacts, Networks and Influences.
Ekberg, Espen (2010)
Scandinavian shipping and the global niches
[Academic lecture]. Nordic Responses to Economic Integration: The Shipping Sector, 1955-2005.
Ekberg, Espen & Merok, Eivind (2009)
Shipping from the Periphery: The Norwegian Experience, 1850-1913
[Academic lecture]. Shipping, Transport and Trade in the 19th and 20th Centuries.
Ekberg, Espen & Lange, Even (2009)
Mapping the growth of the Norwegian offshore shipping industry, 1970-2005
[Academic lecture]. Seminar on Nordic shipping history: Nordic Responses to Economic Integration - the Shipping Sector, 1955-2005.
Ekberg, Espen & Lange, Even (2009)
The non-containerisation of the Norwegian fleet - why Norwegian ship-owners failed to take advantage of the container revolution
[Academic lecture]. Seminar on Nordic shipping history: Nordic Responses to Economic Integration - the Shipping Sector, 1955-2005.
Merok, Eivind & Ekberg, Espen (2008)
Norwegian maritime expansion in the 19th century: Existing explanations and some new explorations
[Academic lecture]. 12th Annual congress of the European Business History Association.
Merok, Eivind & Ekberg, Espen (2008)
Sail to steam revisited: Market specialisation of the Norwegian fleet, 1880-1914
[Academic lecture]. 5th IMEHA International Congress of Maritime History.
Ekberg, Espen (2006)
Forbrukersamvirkets historie i Norge
[Popular scientific article]. St. Hallvard, s. 28- 41.
Ekberg, Espen; Lange, Even & Vatnaland, Jon (2006)
The Dynamics of Success and Failure: The Failed Expansions of the Norwegian Consumer Co-operatives 1990-2000
[Academic lecture]. Tenth annual conference of the European Business History Association.
Lange, Even; Ekberg, Espen & Merok, Eivind (2006)
A successful latecomer: Growth and transformation of the Norwegian consumer co-operatives 1920-2000
[Academic lecture]. XIV International Economic History Congress.
Ekberg, Espen (2005)
Challenges to the Consumer Co-operative movement in Post War Europe: The British and Norwegian consumer co-operative movement in comparison, 1950-2002
[Academic lecture]. ”Taking stock: The Co-operative Movement in British history.” People’s History Museum.
Ekberg, Espen & Vatnaland, Jon (2003)
Strukturendringer i norsk finanssektor. Fragmentering, makt og styringsavmakt i skjæringspunktet mellom næringsliv og politikk
[Report]. Unipub forlag.
Ekberg, Espen & Vatnaland, Jon (2003)
Visjonen som brast : Forbrukersamvirkets møbelsatsing 1993-2001
[Report]. Institutt for samfunnsforskning.
Det eksisterer lite forskning som systematisk beskriver og analyserer drivkreftene bak større tapsprosjekter i næringslivet. Denne rapporten tar for seg Forbrukersamvirkets forsøk på å etablere en landsdekkende forbrukereid møbelkjede. Satsingen foregikk fra 1993 til 2001 og var et ledd i organisasjonens langsiktige strategi om å utvide virksomheten til ulike faghandelsbransjer. Satsingen ble drevet av Norges Kooperative Landsforening (NKL), gjennom Det norske Møbelsenter. Satsingen var imidlertid ikke vellykket og samlet sett tapte NKL omlag 400 millioner kroner på engasjementet i møbelbransjen. Rapporten beskriver hendelsesforløpet i detalj. Videre gir rapporten en analyse av årsakene til at satsingen ikke lyktes. Konklusjonen er at satsingen bar preg av flere uheldige disposisjoner som samlet sett resulterte i en betydelig omsetningssvikt i butikkene. For det første vektlegges den raske veksten i prosjektets tidlige fase. Denne medførte betydelige økonomiske og organisatoriske problemer. Videre innebar samarbeidet med det private selskapet Idé Skeidar flere svært uheldige konsekvenser. Blant annet sviktet engrossystemet, den styringsmessige kontrollen ble svekket og organisasjonen mistet motivasjon og salgsfokus. Til slutt vektlegges de stadige reorganiseringene. Disse resulterte i tap av rutiner, redusert arbeidsmiljøkvalitet og ytterligere tap av salgsfokus. Det formelle ansvaret for satsingen påligger styret og representantskapet i NKL. Samtidig drøftes forhold som kan tilsi at administrasjonen i NKL har hatt en betydelig faktisk innflytelse over sentrale beslutninger. Det er imidlertid få forhold som taler for at den kooperative driftsformen i seg selv var en årsak til utfallet. De mer overordnede årsakene må knyttes til andre faktorer. For det første gikk NKL her inn i en ny bransje uten tilstrekkelig kompetanse og forståelse for denne. For det andre forsøkte NKL på feil grunnlag å revolusjonere driftsformene i denne bransjen. For det tredje var NKL svært utålmodig i forhold til resultatene. Endelig skapte styringsstrukturene problemer med å oppnå en hensiktsmessig styring og ledelse av kjeden.
Academic Degrees
Year
Academic Department
Degree
2008
University of Oslo
Ph.D.
2002
University of Oslo
Master Cand. Polit.
Work Experience
Year
Employer
Job Title
2020 - Present
School of Economics and Business, Norwegian University of Life Sciences