Arne Skaug (6 November 1906 – 4 March 1974) was a Norwegian economist, civil servant, diplomat and politician for the Labour Party.

He was born in Horten as a son of Johan Anton Skaug (1881–1956) and Jenny Lovise Olsen (1882–1917).

He then spent the war years in the United States; first with studies from 1939 to 1941 and as assisting professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison from 1941.

[2] He left this position in February 1949 to become the Norwegian ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris.

[1] He was also the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs from August to October 1957 and December 1960 to February 1961, when Halvard Lange had absences of leave.