Niels highlights the urgent need for innovative approaches to tackle global challenges, emphasizing that imbalance is inherent to economics. Traditionally, a free market with full information has been viewed as the solution to economic disparities and resource allocation, yet this has proven inadequate. The concurrent climate and inequality crises persist without clear solutions. He argues for transformative thinking, stating that the Wellbeing Economy requires rethinking traditional paradigms and redefining success criteria for economic and social development, prioritizing environmental and social sustainability to address these pressing issues.

​

Niels is an economist (cand.polit.) from the University of Copenhagen with a distinguished career in research and public administration. He has held roles as a researcher, head of a research unit, and research director at the former Social Research Institute (now VIVE).

Subsequently, he served as Director of Social Statistics at Statistics Denmark for many years. In addition to his extensive public sector experience, Niels spent a year in the consulting industry, focusing on developing sustainability strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises. He also teaches as a part-time lecturer at the Department of Economics at the University of Copenhagen. Niels is the author of numerous research reports and articles, as well as debate books addressing economic and social inequality and the structure of Danish society. His expertise is complemented by significant international experience, including work on the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

​

At WELA, Niels focuses on advancing the organization’s work with the UN's Pact for the Future, particularly in collaboration with the Danish Coalition for the Future. He explores the relationship between the Pact's objectives and the principles of a wellbeing economy. Niels also contributes to the development of new methodologies for assessing the outcomes of economic activity beyond traditional GDP measures and participates in initiatives to design a future-proof pension system.

 

Outside of his professional pursuits, Niels enjoys spending time with family and friends. Together with his wife, he often dines out and attends jazz concerts. The couple also enjoys escaping to their countryside home, where they cultivate the garden, Niels tends to the forest, they sail on the lake, take long walks with their dog, and cherish the numerous visits from family and friends.