The Production of Textbooks in Mathematics in Norway: 1930-1986

To provide an overview of Norwegian mathematics textbook production 1930—1986, we replicated Johan Prytz’ study of Swedish textbook production. Such a replication also facilitates comparisons between Norway and Sweden, two countries that have often had almost parallel developments in the school system and in mathematics curricula, with Sweden often a few years ahead. Our method includes systematic searches of the National Library of Norway catalogue, supplemented by searches in other sources, including lists of government approved textbooks, to create a database as complete as possible. We find that, as in Sweden, textbook production increases after curriculum reforms, but also that textbook production was more active in the period 1960—1987 than in 1930—1960. New publishers and authors were active from the 1960s. Also, foreign textbooks published in Norwegian editions played an increasing role from 1960. The theory that the abolition of textbook review in Sweden stimulated textbook production is not supported by our study, as Norway had a similar increase in production without the abolition of textbook review.