Finansdepartementet

Finansdepartementet, the Norwegian Ministry of Finance, is the government department responsible for Norway's economic policy and public finances. It formulates macroeconomic policy, drafts the annual state budget, and provides policy analysis on taxation, spending, and revenue.

The ministry operates within the executive branch and is led by the Minister of Finance (finansminister), a member of the Cabinet. The permanent secretary heads the civil service and oversees day-to-day administration.

Its core responsibilities include shaping fiscal policy, managing the state budget and government debt, designing tax policy and customs rules, and coordinating financial regulation and public sector accounting. The ministry also oversees government ownership of enterprises and sets guidelines for the Government Pension Fund Global, including investment strategy and withdrawals.

Norway's fiscal framework, administered by the ministry, includes rules governing the use of petroleum revenues. The Government Pension Fund Global is used to support the budget, under a framework that limits annual non-oil spending; the commonly cited guideline is the 4 percent rule. The ministry collaborates with Norges Bank on macroeconomic stability and with other ministries on policy development.

Historically central to Norway's economic policy, the Finansdepartementet manages the flow of public finances, the response to economic changes, and the governance of state assets. It coordinates with the Parliament during budget processes and provides forecasting and analysis to support policy decisions.