1949年生于挪威奥斯陆。1973年于瑞士圣加伦大学获得经济学学士学位。1976年于哈佛大学获得MBA学位。1980年于康奈尔大学获得经济学博士学位。博士论文题目:《国际贸易与欠发达的经济学机制(International Trade and the Economic Mechanisms)》。在高中时期曾参与由NGO组织的秘鲁安第斯山地区的本地社区发展服务项目。1972年于意大利的贝加莫建立了一家名为Matherson-Selig (缩写:Matherson SpA)的小型工业企业,主营业务为汽车车身涂料的颜色取样(color sampling)。该公司在1991年被赖纳特出售时,已经成为欧洲同行业中规模最大的企业,在芬兰和挪威设立了分公司。1991至1995年,赖纳特在奥斯陆的STEP集团工作。1995至2000年,在由挪威最大的几家工商业企业联合组建的智库—Norsk Investorforum—担任研究主任。同时,兼职于奥斯陆大学的发展与环境中心(简称SUM(英语:Centre for Development and the Environment))。2000年,出任替代教规经济学基金会(英语:The Other Canon Foundation))执行主席。2004年至今,在爱沙尼亚塔林理工大学的技术治理与发展战略系担任教授。赖纳特熟练掌握五种语言:挪威语、英语、德语、意大利语、西班牙语。[1][2]
Globalization, Economic Development and Inequality: An Alternative Perspective (2004), ed. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.
The Origins of Economic Development. How Schools of Economic Thought have Addressed Development (2005), co-edited with KS Jomo. London: Zed / New Delhi: Tulika.
How Rich Countries Got Rich ... and Why Poor Countries Stay Poor (2007), London: Constable.
Techno-Economic Paradigms: Essays in Honour of Carlota Perez (2009), co-ed. London: Anthem.
Ragnar Nurkse (1907–2007): Classical Development Economics and its Relevance for Today (2009), co-ed. London: Anthem.
Ragnar Nurkse: Trade and Development (2009), co-ed. London: Anthem.
Erik S. Reinert, Jayati Ghosh, Rainer Kattel, Editors, Handbook of Alternative Theories of Economic Development, Edward Elgar Pub (May 25, 2018).
With Rainer Kattel: The Visionary Realism of German Economics: From the Thirty Years' War to the Cold War, Anthem Press; 1 edition (February 15, 2019).
Erik S. Reinert and Francesca Viano, Editors, Thorstein Veblen, Economics for an Age of Crises, Anthem Press, 2012.
^Erik Reinert, Jayati Ghosh and Rainer Kattel, Editors (编). Handbook of Alternative Theories of Economic Development. Edward Elgar Publishing. 2016: 738–86.
^Erik S. Reinert, Lulie Aslaksen, Inger Marie G. Eira, Svein D. Mathiesen, Hugo Reinert and Ellen Inga Turi. "Adapting to Climate Chinage in Reindeer Herding: The Nation-State as Problem and Solution" in Adger, N., I. Lorenzoni & K. O' Brien (eds.)Adapting to Climate Change: Thresholds, Vaues, and Governance. Cambridge University Press. 2009.
^Erik S. Reinert. "The Economics of Reindeer Herding: Saami Entrepreneurship between Cyclical Sustainability and the Powers of State and Oligopolies". British Food Journal. 2006, 108 (7): 522–540.
^Erik S. Reinert, Kenneth Carpenter, Fernanda A. Reinert, Sophus Reinert. 80 Economic Bestsellers before 1850: A Fresh Look at the History of Economic THought. Working Papers in Technology Governance and Economic Dynamics no. 74, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn, May 2017.缺少或|url=为空 (帮助)
^Reinert, Erik S.; Reinert, Fernanda A. 33 Economic Bestsellers published before 1750. The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought. 2019-02, 25 (6): 1206–1263.
^Reinert, Erik S. The role of the state in economic growth. Journal of Economic Studies. 1999-08, 26 (4/5): 268–326.
^Erik S. Reinert. "Full Circule: Economics from Scholasticism through Innovation and Back into Mathematical Scholasticism". Journal of Economic Studies. 2000, 27: 364–376.