Publications

Viðskiptaráð opposes a bill imposing further restrictions on rent increases during the lease term. A review of 112 peer-reviewed studies shows that such restrictions reduce the supply, quality and utilisation of rental housing, and they can also fuel inflation through higher initial rents and …

More than 180 people attended the launch of the seventh edition of the Guidelines on Corporate Governance at Háteigur, Grand Hótel, on 21 October. The new edition was presented in print and a new website, leidbeiningar.is, was opened.

The seventh edition of the Guidelines on Corporate Governance has been published. Alongside it, a new and improved website, leidbeiningar.is, has been launched. The emphasis was on simplifying the guidelines and clarifying their presentation rather than adding recommendations. The new edition takes …

In a new short video, the Iceland Chamber of Commerce reviews the state of the Icelandic economy in 60 seconds — inflation, interest rates, unemployment, foreign trade and Iceland's standing in international comparisons.

Viðskiptaráð believes that the need for the substantial increase in regulation and public oversight being proposed has not been demonstrated in the proposals for changes to the legislation on national domains.

18 Icelandic companies were awarded the title of Exemplary Company in Good Governance for 2025–2026. The awards are presented by Stjórnvísi, Viðskiptaráð Íslands (the Iceland Chamber of Commerce), Samtök atvinnulífsins (the Confederation of Icelandic Enterprise) and Nasdaq Iceland.

Birta Karen Tryggvadóttir, an economist in Viðskiptaráð's policy division, discusses Iceland's pension system, one of the strongest in the world. Viðskiptaráð puts forward four proposals for the pension system: reducing the mandatory contribution rate from 15.5% to 12%, having fund members elect …

Viðskiptaráð points out that CBAM only resolves part of the competitiveness problem that the phase-out of free ETS allowances creates for Icelandic aluminium production, does not level the playing field with markets outside Europe, and raises the question of whether the levy falls within the scope …

A clear requirement should be set for cost-benefit analysis of the state's larger investment projects, for options analysis to cover different ways of achieving the same objective, and for the new framework not to increase administration beyond what is warranted by scope and risk. This is among the …

Viðskiptaráð believes that a new fund does not solve the root of the problem in the media market. RÚV is the only media company in the Nordic countries that both receives public funding and sells advertising. It would be better to correct that distortion than to increase the number of small and …

Viðskiptaráð believes that an oligopoly does not equate to a lack of competition, and that speculation about tacit collusion requires more robust evidence. Direct intervention in pricing decisions, such as rules governing the frequency of price changes or maximum mark-ups, could reduce competition. …

The Icelandic pension system is one of the strongest in the world. Through foresight, Icelanders have managed to build a nearly fully funded system. The sheer scale of the system does, however, bring certain challenges with it. Mandatory saving is higher here than anywhere else, and the pension …

Viðskiptaráð opposes the passage of the bill on nicotine and tobacco control in its current form. It considers the draft to involve an excessive restriction of the freedom to conduct business, extensive delegation of power to the Minister, an ill-targeted ban on online sales, and conflicts of …

The Iceland Chamber of Commerce has reviewed the plans for amending the act on support for innovation companies. The Chamber supports, among other things, the plans for a longer validity period for confirmation of research and development projects and for granting Rannís the power to approve …

Moderate growth is expected despite persistent inflation and rising unemployment. Export diversification continues to increase, and tourism remains resilient though faced with multiple challenges. This is according to The Icelandic Economy, a newly published report by the Chamber of Commerce on …

The Iceland Chamber of Commerce reviewed the draft regulation on primary healthcare and supports its objective of levelling the playing field between publicly and privately operated primary care. The Chamber emphasises that the regulation should form part of broader reforms to the operating …

In a new short video, Lísbet Sigurðardóttir, legal counsel at the Iceland Chamber of Commerce, discusses how heavily alcohol is taxed in Iceland. Public levies and duties can amount to around 80% of the retail price, and she considers whether taxation is the most effective way to improve public …

Traffic on trunk roads out of the capital region has grown far beyond the pace at which those roads have been developed. On long 1+1 stretches the slowest vehicle sets the pace, and the delays cost society billions of krónur every year. Benefits could be maximised through 2+2 roads and a 110 km/h …

The Iceland Chamber of Commerce raises no objections to the implementation of the EU rules on digital operational resilience in the financial market (DORA). The Chamber emphasises, however, that the designation criteria must be clear and predictable, and that implementation should go no further than …

Lísbet Sigurðardóttir, legal counsel at the Iceland Chamber of Commerce, examines simplistic characterisations of oligopoly and argues that it is important to distinguish between oligopoly and a lack of competition. She also argues that the authorities should look to what they themselves control …