The first managing director of Statistics Norway, Anders N. Kiær (1876-1913) was a keen proponent of international cooperation in the field of statistics and pioneered the use of representative samples, not least in the area of income statistics. In the early years, studies at Statistics Norway tended to centre on the analysis of census data and income statistics.  After the turn of the century, living conditions and poverty studies became an important aspect of research. And in the post WWI period, Statistics Norway began to publish its own economic reports.

A dedicated research department was not created until 1950. In the years immediately preceding its establishment, much work had gone into creating a national account based on production statistics.  It was the groundbreaking work of this period that enabled subsequent research into macroeconomic modelling and other planning tools. The national accounts system was completed in the early 1950s; at the time very few national accounts incorporated annual supply and use tables or input-output tables.

The 1950s witnessed further expansion, with the introduction of tax analysis, monthly and annual economic reports, and efforts to improve methods of economic planning.  As the 1950s came to a close, the first macroeconomic model to be created at Statistics Norway was launched as a simple input-output model. Known as MODIS I, it was extremely comprehensive given the limitations of the available data back then.

More models were added to the MODIS family in the 1960s and '70s and used by the Ministry of Finance. General equilibrium models (MSGs) became a major area of research at the same time. The '60s saw the introduction the first data-based tax models, developed mainly for the Ministry of Finance and Norwegian Parliament, the Storting. And around 1980, a new type of macroeconomic model was produced (KVARTS / MODAG).

During the 1970s, research expanded with studies devoted to an accounts system for natural resources and energy economics, with petroleum economics following in the 1980s. In recent years more emphasis is put on developing microsimulation models by combining advances in computing, econometric methodology and data accessibility. The models facilitate the analysis of social change brought about by changes in demography, economic growth and government policy.

The Research Department is perpetuating an over century-long tradition of research at Statistics Norway.