OECD Competition Assessment Reviews : Iceland.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Competition.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (408 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Other Title:

OECD Competition Assessment Reviews

Place of Publication:

Paris : Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development, 2020.

Summary:

This review analyses regulatory barriers to competition in the sectors of construction and tourism in Iceland, with the goal of helping Icelandic authorities make regulation more pro-competitive while fostering long-lasting growth.

Contents:

Intro

Blank Page

Preface

By Þórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörð Gylfadóttir, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Innovation

By Páll Gunnar Pálsson, Director General of the Icelandic Competition Authority

Foreword

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations and acronyms

Units of measurement

Executive Summary

Construction

Tourism

Conclusion

1 Assessment and recommendations

1.1. Analytical approach

1.2. The benefits of competition

1.3. Administrative burdens

1.4. Main recommendations from the Competition Assessment Project

1.4.1. Planning

Planning processes

Certain planning requirements raise substantial costs

Rules for plot allocation may restrict access to plots

1.4.2. Building regulations

Inconsistencies in how building inspectors interpret building legislation

The application process for building permits is unclear and burdensome

Notifications are burdensome

Detailed design requirements and Universal Design

Standards

1.4.3. Building materials, equipment and facilities

Construction products regulation

Transport subsidies

Licensing of facilities and equipment

Service providers for fire safety equipment

Outdated or obsolete regulations

1.4.4. Professions

The overall framework for licensed professions in Iceland

Master tradespersons

Carpentry, electrical and plumbing tradespeople

Construction managers

Licensed designers

Real estate agents

Bakers

Photographers

Architects and engineers

1.4.5. Tourism activities

Tourism transport licence

Special equipped vehicles licence

Nationality requirements for sea angling tours

Accommodation standards

Limits on repurposing buildings as accommodation establishments

Protected areas

1.4.6. Transportation related to tourism

Airport ownership.

Regulation of airport tariffs

Concession of commercial activities

Professional competence requirements for taxi drivers

Limits on holding taxi licences

Taxi meters and pre-negotiated prices

Car rentals

1.5. Benefits of lifting barriers

Prioritisation of recommendations

References

Notes

2 Overview of the construction sector

2.1. Economic overview of the construction sector

2.2. Regulatory environment

3 Planning and land use

3.1. Development plans

3.1.1. Regulatory framework

Relevant authorities

Municipal plans

Local plan

3.1.2. Harm to competition

3.1.3. Recommendation

3.2. Street construction fee and parking space requirements

3.2.1. Regulatory requirements

3.2.2. Harm to competition

3.2.3. Recommendation

3.3. Plot allocation

3.3.1. Legal framework

3.3.2. Harm to competition

3.3.3. Recommendation

4 Building regulations

4.1. Regulatory framework

4.1.1. Authorities

4.2. Building inspectors

4.2.1. Harm to competition

4.2.2. Recommendations

4.3. Building permits

4.3.1. Regulatory requirements

4.3.2. Harm to competition

4.3.3. Recommendations

4.4. Construction notifications

4.4.1. Regulatory requirements

4.4.2. Harm to competition

4.4.3. Recommendations

4.5. Detailed design requirements and universal design

4.5.1. Regulatory requirements

4.5.2. Harm to competition

4.5.3. Recommendations

4.6. Standards

4.6.1. European standards

4.6.2. National standards

4.6.3. Harm to competition

4.6.4. Recommendation

5 Building materials, facilities and equipment

5.1. Regulatory framework

5.2. Quality of construction products

5.2.1. Regulatory framework

5.2.2. Harm to competition

5.2.3. Recommendations

5.3. Transport subsidies.

5.3.1. Regulatory framework

5.3.2. Harm to competition

5.3.3. Recommendations

5.4. Licensing and authorisation requirements in the sector

5.4.1. Description and objective of the provisions

5.4.2. Requirements on facilities, security and hygiene in the work place

Harm to competition

Recommendations

5.4.3. Service providers for fire safety equipment

5.4.4. Driver's licences and driver's safety

5.5. Outdated and/or obsolete provisions

5.5.1. Recommendation

6 Professions

6.1. Background to the regulation of professions

6.1.1. Rationale for regulating professions

6.1.2. Models of regulation for professional services

Licensing with reserved activities

Certification and protected title

Registration

Insurance and bonding regimes

6.1.3. Empirical evidence of the impact of regulating professions on consumers and markets

6.1.4. Regulatory framework

6.2. Professions subject to reserved activities and licensing regulations

6.2.1. The overall framework for licensed professions in Iceland

Description of the barriers

6.2.2. Licensing of master tradespersons

Harm to competition from restrictions relating to master tradespersons

International experience

6.2.3. Carpentry, electrical and plumbing tradespeople

6.2.4. Construction managers

A building permit is not issued unless a licensed construction manager has been engaged to oversee the construction project (Article 27, paragraph 1 of Law no. 160/2010 on Buildings). Construction managers are responsible for overseeing all types of c.

Description of the barriers

6.2.5. Licensed designers

6.2.6. Quality control systems for licensed master tradesmen, construction managers and licensed designers

6.2.7. Real estate agents

Reserved activities

Ownership restrictions

6.2.8. Bakers

6.2.9. Photographers

Recommendation

6.3. Professions subject to protected title regulations

6.1.1. Architects

6.1.2. Engineers

Description of the barrier

Annex 6.A. Calculating the occupational entry restrictions indicator

7 Tourism activities

7.1. Description of the tourism sector

7.1.1. Economic overview

Pre-Covid-19 tourism growth

The impact of Covid-19

Composition of the tourism sector

Accommodation

Restaurants and food services

Land and air transportation

7.2. Regulatory framework of the tourism sector

7.2.1. State and local government interplay

7.2.2. Light overall regulatory burdens

7.3. Licences for transport in tourism

7.3.1. Harm to competition

7.3.2. Recommendation

7.3.3. Nationality requirements for sea angling tours

7.4. Restaurants, accommodation and entertainment

7.4.1. Restrictions identified in the restaurant and the accommodation sub-sector

Cost of licence to operate.

Harm to competition

7.4.2. Accommodation standards

7.4.3. Limits on new accommodation establishments

7.5. Protected Areas

7.5.1. Overview of the regulatory framework in the protected areas

8 Transport related to tourism

8.1. Air transport

8.1.1. Airport ownership and operating model

8.1.2. Regulation of airport tariffs

8.1.3. Concession of commercial activities

8.2. Taxis

The current framework for taxi regulation in Iceland

Market outcomes

Reforming taxi regulation

8.2.2. Professional competence

8.2.3. Limits on ability to hold licences

8.2.4. Taxi meters or pre-negotiated prices

8.3. Car rentals

8.3.1. Physical premises

8.3.2. Professional indemnity insurance

Annex 8.A. Data on airport cost competitiveness and charges

Annex A. Methodology

Stage 1: the Inception report

Stage 2: mapping and collection of regulations

Stage 3: screening for potential restrictions to competition

Stage 4: In-depth analysis of the harm to competition

Stages 5 and 6: formulation of recommendations and final report

Stage 7: end of project and implementation support

Co-operation with the Icelandic administration

Annex B. Recommendations.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9789264624979

926462497X

OCLC:

1420627209