The symposium in honour of Odd-Helge Fjeldstad welcomed several distinguished speaker. Here (from the left) Mick Moore, Donald Mmari, Odd-Helge Fjeldstad and Bertil Tungodden.
22 May 2026

Honouring 35 years of tax research: Symposium for Odd-Helge Fjeldstad

Odd-Helge Fjeldstad, Research Professor at CMI and Extraordinary Professor at the African Tax Institute at the University of Pretoria, has spent four decades at the forefront of research on taxation, fiscal corruption, and capital flight. His work is widely recognised for its strong policy relevance, influencing tax reforms and administrative practices across several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.

On 21 May, CMI hosted a symposium to honour Fjeldstad’s contributions and long-standing career. The event brought together close collaborators and colleagues from across his 35 years in tax research, including international guests Donald Mmari, Executive Director at REPOA in Tanzania, and Mick Moore, Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies and founding CEO of the International Centre for Tax and Development.

Panelists discussed tax as a part of the social contract between citizens and state.

Through a full day of keynote lectures, panel discussions, and reflections, participants highlighted Fjeldstad’s impact on both scholarship and practice. Speakers emphasised his ability to bridge academic research and policy, putting taxation firmly on the agenda for policymakers as well as researchers, and his role as an early contributor to key developments in the field.

Donald Mmari underscored the significance of Fjeldstad’s long-term engagement in Tanzania and Zanzibar, where his work has supported policy development and strengthened capacity within tax authorities. Research partners from NHH pointed to his hands-on approach to research and his commitment to communicating findings beyond academia.

A recurring theme throughout the symposium was the importance of the social contract in taxation. This is an issue that has been at the core of Fjeldstad’s work. Speakers also highlighted his academic generosity and his openness to collaboration. These qualities that have influenced both the field and the many researchers he has worked with over the years.

Fjeldstad will remain active in research, continuing to contribute to a field he has left a clear mark on.

Fjeldstad has collaborated extensively across sectors and borders. From the left: Espen Villanger (CMI), Trond Hjørungdal (NTA), Odd-Helge Fjeldstad (CMI), Victoria Wagner-Larsen (NTA), and Donald Mmari (REPOA)

 

 

Read more about the impact of Fjeldstad's research in this impact story.