Per Kleppe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Per Kleppe
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Kleppe in 2009
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| Minister of Finance | |
| In office 16 October 1973 – 8 October 1979 |
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| Prime Minister | Trygve Bratteli Odvar Nordli |
| Preceded by | Jon Ola Norbom |
| Succeeded by | Ulf Sand |
| Minister of Trade and Shipping | |
| In office 17 March 1971 – 18 October 1972 |
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| Prime Minister | Trygve Bratteli |
| Preceded by | Otto G. Tidemand |
| Succeeded by | Hallvard Eika |
| Minister of Nordic Cooperation | |
| In office 24 September 1971 – 18 October 1972 |
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| Prime Minister | Trygve Bratteli |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Hallvard Eika |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Per Andreas Hildhe Kleppe
13 April 1923 Oslo, Norway |
| Died | 10 March 2021 (aged 97) |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Margaretha Ström |
| Children | Astri Kleppe |
Per Andreas Hildhe Kleppe (born April 13, 1923 – died March 10, 2021) was an important Norwegian economist and politician. He was a member of the Labour Party.
Per Kleppe held several key government jobs in Norway. He was the Minister of Trade and Shipping from 1971 to 1972. Later, he became the Minister of Finance from 1973 to 1979. After his time as a minister, he also worked as the General Secretary of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) from 1981 to 1988.
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Early Life and Education
Per Kleppe was born in Kristiania (which is now Oslo) in April 1923. His father was a lawyer named Knut Sigurd Kleppe. When Per was six years old, his family moved to the city of Bergen.
In 1951, he married Margaretha Eva Malmros Ström, who was an editor. Per Kleppe studied at the University of Oslo. He earned his economics degree in 1956.
Starting a Political Career
Per Kleppe began his political journey as a deputy representative in the Norwegian Parliament. This was from 1954 to 1957. He also served as a deputy member of the Oslo city council from 1951 to 1955.
After finishing his studies, Kleppe became a State Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. He held this important role from 1957 to 1962.
From 1963 to 1967, he worked as a subdirector at EFTA in Geneva. EFTA is an organization that helps countries trade freely. From 1967 to 1971, he led the Labour movement's research office.
Minister of Trade and Shipping
Per Kleppe became the Minister of Trade and Shipping in the first government led by Prime Minister Trygve Bratteli. This was from March 17, 1971, to October 18, 1972. During this time, he also became the first ever Minister of Nordic Cooperation. This role involved working closely with other Nordic countries.
One of his main tasks as Trade Minister was to finish talks about Norway joining the European Economic Community (EEC). However, the people of Norway voted against joining the EEC in a special vote in 1972. Because of this, the Bratteli government resigned.
Minister of Finance and the "Kleppe Package"
In October 1973, Prime Minister Trygve Bratteli asked Per Kleppe to become the Minister of Finance. He continued in this role when Odvar Nordli became Prime Minister in 1976. Kleppe served as Finance Minister until October 1979.
He was the Finance Minister for six years. During this time, he created important economic plans for Norway. One famous plan was called the "Kleppe package." This plan helped control rising prices (inflation). The government helped by offering benefits during salary talks between workers and employers.
To prevent people from losing their jobs, the government also gave financial help to industries. This was especially true for shipping and shipbuilding companies.
Leading Long-Term Planning
After his time as Finance Minister, Per Kleppe took on a new role. From January 1980, he led the Secretariat for Long-Term Planning. He held this position until October 1981. This secretariat helped plan for Norway's future economy.
General Secretary of EFTA
In 1981, Per Kleppe became the General Secretary of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). This was a very important international job. He led EFTA until 1988. In this role, he helped promote free trade among member countries.
Later Life and Legacy
After leaving EFTA in 1988, Per Kleppe continued to be active. He worked with the Fafo Foundation, which is a research organization. He also led several government groups in the late 1980s and early 1990s. These groups looked at topics like money, credit, and employment.
He wrote several books about economics and his political life. His autobiography, Kleppepakke, was published in 2003.
Per Kleppe received many awards and honors from different countries. He was also decorated with the Commander with Star of the Order of St. Olav in 1989, which is a high honor in Norway.
Per Kleppe passed away on March 10, 2021, at the age of 97.
