Why the state is an owner

State ownership shall be assessed in light of whether it is the best measure for achieving societal goals, or whether other measures are better suited. It may be applicable to both increase and reduce state ownership in line with what is considered to be in Norway’s strategic interests. The State shall use the entire “business policy toolbox”, including state ownership, when this is the best solution.

The starting point for why the State presently has direct ownership in companies is that the market alone does not provide the best socio-economic result. The State has six different rationales for when state ownership may be an appropriate measure for meeting various societal needs:
- Head office functions in Norway
- Civil protection and emergency preparedness
- Energy and natural resources
- Facilitating sustainable restructuring and increased value creation
- Infrastructure, monopolies and assigned rights
- Public goods and/or social and geographical distribution

The rationales are relevant both for the companies that primarily operate in competition with others (Category 1) and for the companies that do not primarily operate in competition with others (Category 2).

Even if the State has a rationale for when direct state ownership is a beneficial measure, state ownership may also entail potential challenges. The State's ownership policy, which is presented in the white paper on ownership policy, aims to mitigate these challenges and to contribute to the best possible goal attainment in each of the companies.