Icelandic Government Research Articles

Jónsbók and the Introduction of Royal Government in Iceland

Jónsbók and the Introduction of Royal Government in Iceland

Navigating the economic consequences of the Russia-Ukraine conflict: A focus on Iceland’s response and opportunities for long-term stability and growth

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the economic repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the global economy, with a specific emphasis on its impact on Iceland. The study examines the disruptions in international trade, escalation in raw material prices, and the implications for various sectors and nations worldwide. The report also evaluates the effectiveness of the Icelandic government's response, including targeted financial aid packages, tax relief measures, and investments in renewable energy projects. Furthermore, it highlights the critical factors that will determine the success of these measures, such as diversification of trade partners, fiscal sustainability, and the uncertain trajectory of external developments. The paper underscores the necessity for continuous evaluation, adaptation of policies based on emerging data, and strategic planning focused on long-term economic stability and growth to navigate the economic consequences of the conflict and emerge stronger

Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance and the Risk of Thrombotic Events: Results from Istopmm, a Population-Based Screening Study in Iceland

Introduction: Multiple myeloma (MM), Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM), and related disorders have been associated with excess risk of thrombosis. Furthermore, medications used to treat these disorders, in particular immunomodulatory agents, have been associated with excess thrombotic risk. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), the asymptomatic precursor of MM, WM, and related disorders, has also been associated with arterial and venous thrombosis. However, prior studies have been based on cohorts where MGUS was diagnosed as part of the work-up for other unrelated medical disorders. We have shown that these cohort have biased selection of individuals with chronic disease, including autoimmune disease, heart failure, endocrine disorders and more. This selection bias may have led to false associations or overestimation of the relationship of MGUS and thrombotic events. Aim: To evaluate the relationship of MGUS and thrombosis in a screened cohort of individuals with MGUS. Methods: Data were obtained from the Iceland screens, treats, or prevents multiple myeloma study (iStopMM), a population-based screening study for MGUS and a randomized trial of follow-up strategies with the aim of evaluating the benefits and harms of MGUS screening. As part of the study 75,422 Icelandic residents 40 years and older (54% of the underlying population) have provided their informed consent for the study and were screened by serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) and free light chain (FLC) assay. The cohort was crosslinked to population-based Icelandic government registries that includes all diagnoses made in the universal healthcare system, recorded as international classification of diseases (ICD) 10 codes. The study exposure was MGUS at screening and the outcome was venous and arterial thrombosis, defined as recorded ICD-10 codes. Events recorded within 90 days of each other were considered the same event. We further analyzed subgroups of M protein isotype and light chain (LC) MGUS. We followed participants prospectively after the date of screening to arterial and venous thrombosis as the endpoint and censoring at death, progression to MM, WM, and related disorders, or end of follow-up. Hazard ratios (HR) for time to first thrombotic event were estimated using Cox regression models, while hazard ratios for recurrent thrombotic events were estimated using mixed-effects Cox regression models with a random intercept. Both prospective analyses were adjusted for age as a non-linear variable and sex. In a secondary analysis, M-protein concentration was included as a non-linear variable into similar models that were restricted to those with MGUS with an M-protein. Results: Of the 75,422 screened, 3,353 had MGUS with an M-protein, here termed heavy chain (HC) MGUS, and 315 had LC MGUS. Over a median follow-up of 3.67 to 3.90 years, depending on the outcome of interest, 263 and 3,557 arterial events (20.4 and 13.5 per 1,000 person years) and 260 and 3,092 venous events (20.2 and 11.7 per 1,000 person years) were observed in those with and without MGUS respectively. MGUS was found to be associated with venous thrombotic events (HR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.08-1.57), in particular deep vein thrombosis (HR:1.46; 95% CI: 1.12-1.90). Of the different MGUS subtypes, this association was only observed in non-IgM MGUS. The results were similar in the recurrent events analysis. IgM MGUS was found to be associated with a higher of peripheral arterial embolic events (HR: 2.86; 95% 1.04-7.85) but this association was not observed in the recurrent event analysis. M-protein concentration was not correlated with the risk of thrombotic events. Discussion: In this large population-based study including more than 75,000 individuals screened for MGUS, we found that MGUS, and particularly non-IgM MGUS, was associated with venous thrombotic events. Interestingly, the size of the M-protein spike was not associated with a higher risk for thromboembolic events. Further studies are needed to identify the underlying mechanisms with the goal of identifying subgroups of the MGUS population that may require interventions to prevent thrombotic events, potentially improving the survival and quality of life of those with MGUS.

Cascading effect of upper secondary education policy reform: the experiences and perspectives of university teachers

ABSTRACT In 2014 the Icelandic government implemented a reform that reduced the time of all academic programs of upper secondary education from an average of four years in duration to three, aiming to increase efficiency in the education system. Drawing on critical policy analysis, this study explores wider consequences of the reform’s enactment for higher education, with reference to the strong connection between the two school levels. Teachers at the University of Iceland were interviewed about perceived changes, if any, in students’ preparation for university studies in the wake of the reform and whether any measures were needed to adapt to such changes. The findings highlight the importance of policy makers considering the interconnectedness of different school levels and the wide-reaching effects of education reforms. They indicate that the policy reform has had consequences in higher education that vary between different academic subjects and disciplines and that there is considerable tension within the University in how to adapt to them. The findings call for further exploration into the content of the academic programs in upper secondary education which may provide valuable information on the interplay between policies that aim for decentralised curriculum-making and efficiency in education systems.

Exclusion to Inclusion: Lived Experience of Intellectual Disabilities in National Reporting on the CRPD

This article critically examines the application of an innovative project aimed at developing a mechanism for people with intellectual disabilities to provide input to the Icelandic government’s report on its implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (CRPD). The project was undertaken to comply with the CRPD’s obligation to ensure the participation of disabled people in the review process and to respond to the recognized need for changes to consultation processes to accommodate the needs of people with intellectual disabilities. The project was successful in producing its intended outcome, to facilitate meaningful input by people with intellectual disabilities to the national review process. However, the research reveals that effective use of the outcome report by the authorities, which had both funded the project and praised its work, was lacking. These findings draw attention to the need to address unspoken norms and biases, and to take assertive steps to institutionalize a more structured and transparent process of co‐creation to ensure that the voices of marginalized groups are in fact heard and effectively taken into account in outcome processes. The research this article draws on is qualitative, comprised of data gathered through document analysis, as well as in‐depth interviews with representatives of disabled people’s organizations and the authorities.

Destination imaging, compatibilities with intellectual property rights‐based tourism industry

AbstractIntellectual property pervades all aspects of life. Sustaining intellectual creations is often debatable. The abounding atmosphere of progress and development encompasses other industries as well. Tourism is a major economic driver that promotes social and cultural exchange while directly and indirectly employing millions of people. Destination branding is promoted by tourism. After the 2010 Eyjafjallajökul eruption, Iceland's reputation as a safe tourist destination plummeted. Iceland's government promoted the “Inspired by Iceland” brand to attract tourists. The brand is a symbol, mark, logo, name, word, or sentence used to distinguish one product from another. The paper examines the relationship between intellectual property rights (IPR) and tourism. Geographical indications (GI) have a huge impact on regional tourism. The GI manufacturing process and cultivation tend to attract tourists. Travelers often want to sample regional foods, flavors, aromas, and beverages and buy them directly from consumers, resulting in a tourist influx. The capitalist notion of destination branding is abandoned as the IPR‐based tourism sector is revived. It also promotes the best way to develop the tourism industry while protecting IPRs. The link is also heavily emphasized to promote tourism. Regional development and eco‐tourism policies should be promoted. The tourism industry benefits greatly from protecting indigenous communities and their traditional knowledge.

Is tourism growth able to shrink economic inequalities? A DSGE analysis

The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between inbound tourism and economic inequalities (income and wealth). We construct a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) small open-economy model that includes the tourism industry and the housing market. We focus on the recent Icelandic tourism boom, and our simulation results suggest a reduction in income inequality and an increase in wealth inequality. Inbound tourism thus has opposite effects on domestic income inequality and wealth inequality, so the Icelandic government faces a trade-off when formulating tourism-related policies to reduce inequalities, and the consequences may depend on the type of inequality that policymakers prioritize. Lastly, implications are provided based on results.

Interpretation in Ásbyrgi: Communicating with National Park Visitors in Iceland

Iceland has experienced rapid increases in tourism in recent years. This growth earns economic applause, but can come at considerable environmental cost. As Iceland’s unique environment is a drawcard for many tourists, careful management of destinations to ensure a sustainable environment is critical. The Icelandic Government is aware of the need for effective destination management and planning to ensure a sustainable future for tourism development, and the need to couple this with visitor compliance. It is a development that cannot be divorced from the need for environmental sustainability, and responsibility for this lies with all tourism stakeholders. One management tool to assist with such responsibility and compliance in tourism is interpretation: creating and delivering messages to visitors that enhance not only their satisfaction with an experience but also their understanding of it. This paper is based on an evaluation of visitors’ experiences and managers’ perceptions, as is necessary to ensure visitor satisfaction, while determining how best to maintain a sustainable environment. By observing and interviewing visitors, guides, rangers, and managers at Ásbyrgi in the northernmost part of Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland, we were able to discover what sort of information park visitors want to receive, what park managers want to convey, and the preferred way to deliver that information. Overall, most visitors and guides were satisfied with the interpretation in Ásbyrgi and preferred information provided verbally by guides or rangers over other types, such as on signs or in electronic format. Visitors want information about the unique geology and cultural history, as well as directional instructions for hiking trails. Managers want to create an accessible space in which visitors comply with instructions about safety and environmental sustainability. These findings can assist tourism management in Ásbyrgi, and other nature-based destinations, particularly in terms of sustainability of the natural environment.

All the King’s men. The incorporation of Iceland into the Norwegian Realm

ABSTRACT It is a common supposition that Iceland became a part of Norway over a period of few years following 1262, that this was done through the adoption of a document known as The Old Covenant (ON. Gamli sattmali) and that the most important part of this transition was that the Icelanders now accepted the Norwegian king as their own king. Some of these statements must be subject to qualification. In fact, different parts of Iceland became subject to the Norwegian king at various times, the Old Covenant had no legal status neither in Iceland nor the Norwegian kingdom at large, and the Norwegian king had already been accepted as the ruler of most of Iceland before 1262.This article will demonstrate that the incorporation of Iceland into the Norwegian realm involved three distinct but interconnected issues: The introduction of government into Iceland, the introduction of regular taxation and, finally, the adjustment of Icelandic laws to reflect the laws of the Norwegian kingdom. The focus will not be on the events of a single year or a period of few years, but on a longer period of transition, from 1220 to 1281, of which the adaption of Jonsbok was the final act. The adoption of a new law code changed the nature of the government that had been introduced in Iceland, which became more centralized than anyone might have expected. With the adoption of Jonsbok at the Icelandic parliament in 1281, the incorporation of Iceland into the Norwegian kingdom was finalized. The new law code defined the status of the king and the new government of Iceland and harmonized Icelandic laws with the laws of other parts of the kingdom, although Iceland retained some of its separate legal tradition.

Application of Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Tools for Assessing Biogas Plants: A Case Study in Reykjavik, Iceland

The European Union is planning a new program to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. In this context, the Icelandic government plans to ban new registrations of fossil fuel cars after 2030 as one of the strategies to make Iceland a carbon-neutral country by 2040. Upgraded biogas can be directly used in vehicles with CNG engines, reducing CO2 emissions by 80%. In this paper, several alternatives of biogas plants, simulated in previous research, were evaluated by considering techno-economic and environmental criteria through the application of multi-criteria decision-making tools. Twelve alternatives were analyzed using the Definite 3.1 software. A weighted summation algorithm, which transforms all criteria into the same scale by multiplying them by weights and then summing them to obtain the results, was used in the analysis. The multi-criteria analysis of the twelve proposed alternatives included eleven criteria (three technical, five economic, and three environmental) whose weights were changed in a total of eleven scenarios. From a global perspective, when all criteria were considered (9.1% weight) the best alternative with a score of 0.58 was the single-stage biogas plant working with municipal solid waste. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses also demonstrated that the multi-criteria results obtained were robust and reliable.

Changes in maximum parental leave payment in Iceland and total fertility rates.

Following the 2008 financial crisis, the Icelandic Government reduced the maximum parental payment until 2016, when it was increased again. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the changes in the maximum parental leave payment in Iceland during 2009 and 2016 on total fertility rates and birth rates during 2002-2019. Publicly available aggregated data on yearly total fertility rates, birth rates, unemployment rates, gross domestic product (GDP) and maximum parental leave payments were obtained for 2002-2019. Segmented regression analyses were used to measure the impact of changes in parental leave payment on term births for the two periods in which changes were implemented (2008-2010 and 2016-2017). The decrease in maximum parental leave payment during 2008-2010 was associated with a 15% decrease in the estimated total fertility rate compared with the expected rate (-15.7%; 95% CI -22.7 to -8.7), whereas the increased payments during 2016-2017 indicated a possible 3% increase in the estimated total fertility rate (3.2%; 95% CI -29.1 to 35.5). Neither adjustment for the unemployment rate nor the GDP appeared to affect these results. The overall birth rate followed a similar trend and was most pronounced for women aged 25-34 years. These results suggest that total fertility rates in Iceland may have been affected by changes in the maximum parental leave payment that occurred in 2009 and 2016, although the effect of the 2008 financial crisis cannot be excluded despite adjustment for the unemployment rate and GDP.

Cascade of care during the first 36 months of the treatment as prevention for hepatitis C (TraP HepC) programme in Iceland: a population-based study

WHO has set targets to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection as a global health threat by 2030 through a 65% reduction in HCV-related deaths and 80% reduction in HCV incidence. To achieve these goals, WHO set service coverage targets of 90% of the infected population being diagnosed and 80% of eligible patients being treated. In February, 2016, Iceland initiated a nationwide HCV elimination programme known as treatment as prevention for hepatitis C (TraP HepC), which aimed to maximise diagnosis and treatment access. This analysis reports on the HCV cascade of care in the first 3 years of the programme. This population-based study was done between Feb 10, 2016, and Feb 10, 2019. Participants aged 18 years or older with permanent residence in Iceland and PCR-confirmed HCV were offered direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. The programme used a multidisciplinary team approach in which people who inject drugs were prioritised. Nationwide awareness campaigns, improved access to testing, and harm reduction services were scaled up simultaneously. The number of infected people in the national HCV registry was used in combination with multiple other data sources, including screening of low-risk groups and high-risk groups, to estimate the total number of HCV infections. The number of people diagnosed, linked to care, initiated on treatment, and cured were recorded during the study. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02647879. In February, 2016, at the onset of the programme, 760 (95% CI 690-851) individuals were estimated to have HCV infection, with 75 (95% CI 6-166) individuals undiagnosed. 682 individuals were confirmed to be HCV PCR positive. Over the next 3 years, 183 new infections (including 42 reinfections) were diagnosed, for a total of 865 infections in 823 individuals. It was estimated that more than 90% of all domestic HCV infections had been diagnosed as early as January, 2017. During the 3 years, 824 (95·3%) of diagnosed infections were linked to care, and treatment was initiated for 795 (96·5%) of infections linked to care. Cure was achieved for 717 (90·2%) of 795 infections. By using a multidisciplinary public health approach, involving tight integration with addiction treatment services, the core service coverage targets for 2030 set by WHO have been reached. These achievements position Iceland to be among the first nations to subsequently achieve the WHO goal of eliminating HCV as a public health threat. The Icelandic Government and Gilead Sciences.

Stefnuyfirfærsla: Áhrif Efnahags- og framfarastofnunarinnar (OECD) á stefnumótun á Íslandi

Alþjóðastofnanir á borð við Efnahags- og framfarastofnunina (OECD), Sameinuðu þjóðirnar (SÞ), Alþjóðagjaldeyrissjóðinn (AGS) og Alþjóðabankann eru þekktar fyrir að standa að baki útbreiðslu hugmynda, gilda og stefnumála um heim allan. Á 10. áratugnum jókst áhugi fræðimanna á viðfangsefni sem kallað er hér stefnuyfirfærsla (e. policy transfer). Tilraunir fræðimanna fólust m.a. í því að setja ramma utan um nálgunina og skýra af hverju yfirfærsla á sér stað, við hvaða aðstæður, á hvaða stigi o.s.frv. Fátt hefur verið meira rannsakað innan stjórnsýslufræðanna undanfarna áratugi erlendis en viðfangsefnið hefur lítið borið á góma hér á landi. Þrátt fyrir mikinn áhuga á viðfangsefninu alþjóðlega hefur nálgunin verið gagnrýnd þar sem hún er m.a. talin vera of lýsandi og kenningarlega veik. Hafa ekki embættismenn og stjórnmálamenn stolið hugmyndum frá hvor öðrum í aldir? Í ár verður Efnahags- og framfarastofnunin (OECD) 60 ára. Ísland er eitt af stofnaðildarríkjunum og því kominn tími til að rýna þetta langa samstarf sem íslensk stjórnsýsla hefur átt við OECD. Tilgangur þessarar greinar er að fjalla um starfsemi OECD og meta áhrif hennar á íslenska stefnumótun. Í fyrsta hluta greinarinnar er annars vegar fjallað um forvera OECD sem var Efnahagssamvinnustofnun Evrópu (OEEC) og hvernig hún lagði grunninn að því hvernig OECD starfar í dag. Hins vegar er farið ítarlega yfir hlutverk og skipulag OECD og þær áskoranir sem stofnunin hefur staðið frammi fyrir á undanförnum áratugum. Í öðrum hluta er aðferðin stefnuyfirfærsla skoðuð nánar. Aðferðin er skilgreind auk þess sem fjallað er um helstu leikendur. Tilraun er gerð til að ramma inn helstu afbrigði stefnuyfirfærslna og rætt er um sjálfviljuga og þvingaða yfirfærslu. Að lokum er fjallað um þátttöku Íslands á vettvangi OECD. Til að meta að hvaða leyti íslensk stjórnvöld nýta sér afurðir OECD við stefnumótun hér á landi er stuðst við gögn úr árangurskönnunum stofnunarinnar.

Referendums as resistance: international pressures and nationalist recoil in Iceland

ABSTRACT This paper examines how referendums on internationally contested issues can activate nationalist discourses. To this end, it carries out a case study of the ‘Icesave conflict’ between Iceland, the UK and the Netherlands. This conflict centered on whether the Icelandic government should insure British and Dutch deposits in the online accounts of the Icelandic bank Landsbanki, which went bankrupt in the Global Financial Crisis. Departing from a discursive institutionalist framework, the paper performs a detailed analysis of the conflict over time, including two Icelandic referendums on repayment plans. It argues that although calling a referendum likely gave Iceland more bargaining power, doing so also activated novel nationalist discourses. A main contribution of the paper thus lies in illustrating how international pressures can ‘reverberate’ in the domestic realm. Another key contribution is the dynamic analysis of a case that spanned several years, allowing for a time-sensitive understanding of evolving political developments and discourses.

He Collapse of the Icelandic Banking System and the (Dis)Honest and/or (In)Competent Response of the International Community

The 2008 global economic and financial crisis hit hard in Iceland. During the crisis its three largest banks all collapsed in just a few days with severe consequences for the economy and the people. Prior to the crisis, Iceland, a high income OECD country, had experienced strong growth and unprecedented expansion in overseas investments and activities, especially in the financial sector. This article focuses on the actions of the international community when the Icelandic authorities, during a period of great uncertainty, sought assistance to protect the Icelandic economy before the banking system fell. The methodology used in this article is the case study method. Compared to other research methods, a case study enables the researcher to examine the issues involved in greater depth. Arguably, the governments of the Netherlands and the UK tried to fake reality by suggesting that the Icelandic government, i.e. Icelandic taxpayers, should be made responsible for paying the debts of private banks. The EFTA Court ruling confirms that Iceland did not have this responsibility. In retrospect one can argue that the EU showed dishonesty by supporting the Netherlands and the UK in demanding a sovereign guarantee for failed private banks. The Icelandic banking expansion exposed weaknesses in EU integration and may also confirm a certain incompetence within the EU in designing an EU-wide banking system.

Public Opinion in Iceland on Aid During the Ebola Epidemic in West Africa

Public support in high-income countries for development cooperation and humanitarian assistance influences the provision of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to fight global poverty and improve conditions in low-income countries. This research examined public attitudes in Iceland toward ODA, with the aid provided by the Icelandic government in September 2014 to fight the Ebola epidemic in West Africa as a case in point. Specifically, it examines which characteristics relate to having negative attitudes towards the assistance, and what reasons the public believe influenced the decision to provide aid. A questionnaire about attitudes towards the Ebola epidemic was administered to a random sample of 1.500 adults from an internet panel established by the Social Science Research Institute of the University of Iceland, and 920 people answered (61 per cent response rate). A quarter of the respondents expressed negative attitudes towards the humanitarian assistance provided in response to the Ebola epidemic, and development cooperation in general. Those who held negative attitudes were more likely to lean to the right in political orientation and be less educated. The majority of the public believed ethical reasons influenced the decision to provide humanitarian assistance. Respondents with negative attitudes towards the aid were more likely to believe that self-interest influenced the decision to provide aid; yet, a survey with an experimental design is needed to elucidate this issue further. Governments should ensure that development cooperation and humanitarian assistance are based on ethical considerations, in addition to educating the public about development processes, to increase positive attitudes towards foreign aid.

An evaluation of the cost-competitiveness of maritime fuels – a comparison of heavy fuel oil and methanol (renewable and natural gas) in Iceland

Alternative fuels have been proposed to ensure compliance with the increasingly more stringent emission standards proposed by the International Maritime Organization. In addition, the Icelandic government aims to introduce 10% renewable energy into the maritime sector before 2030, as well as eventually phasing out the use of heavy fuel oil (HFO). This paper conducts an extended cost-competitiveness comparison concerning three fuels: conventional methanol (NG), renewable methanol (RN) and HFO in the context of the Icelandic maritime sector. NG, RN and HFO are compared and evaluated under three scenarios (low, medium and high) for fuel prices between 2018 and 2050, and three scenarios (low, medium and high) for the external costs of fuel consumption. The methodology for estimating external costs involved Impact Pathway Analysis for emissions of sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide, particulate matter and non-methane volatile organic compounds, and increasing shadow prices for the costs of greenhouse gas emissions. The application of this methodology provides new information about the economic and environmental trade-offs between the three fuel types. In our findings, excluding external costs, HFO emerges as the most cost-competitive option. However, when the externalities of fuel consumption are monetised and added to the fuel price, NG is the most cost-competitive option when high values are assumed for external costs. RN is the most expensive option according to all trajectories for fuel prices and external costs, not becoming more cost-competitive than HFO under any scenario until the 2040s. Therefore, on cost criteria alone, it is improbable that the fuel will contribute to Iceland's 10% renewable energy goal in the maritime sector before 2030 without subsidies or renewable marine fuel quotas.

DISOBEDIENT BOYS AND PROMISCUOUS GIRLS

ABSTRACT Since the 1990s, numerous public investigations have been carried out around the world on the abuse of children in out-of-home care. In the case of Iceland, commissions were appointed by the Icelandic government in 2007 to examine the historical abuse of children and youth in institutions monitored by local or state authorities during the second half of the 20th century. All the institutions subject to national investigations in Iceland were created during the postwar era, the earliest one in 1947. This article addresses the discourse on institutions and out-of-home care from a long-time perspective. It is shown that ideas on those institutions came to the fore during the early 20th century and were closely linked to progressive ideas on child welfare at the time. World War II and the British occupation of Iceland shaped the views on institutional care, and the postwar era was a period of intensive institutionalization of children and youth. The study also shows that the rhetoric concerning disobedient youth was heavily gendered. Whereas boys were accused of petty larceny, truancy and vagrancy, the main evils of girls were related to their morals, promiscuity being their chief vice.

„Það er ekki til ein uppskrift“ Fyrsta ár flóttabarna í leikskólum í þremur sveitarfélögum á Íslandi

Árið 2016 kom hópur sýrlenskra kvótaflóttafjölskyldna til Íslands frá Líbanon og settist að í þremur sveitarfélögum (Stjórnarráð Íslands, 2019). Markmið rannsóknarinnar, sem hófst síðla árs 2016 og er langtímarannsókn, eru að athuga reynslu flóttabarna og foreldra þeirra af leik- og grunnskólastarfi og frístundastarfi; og að athuga reynslu stjórnenda og kennara í skólum og frístundaheimilum af móttöku barnanna, skipulagi náms og samstarfi við foreldrana. Í greininni er fjallað um þær niðurstöður rannsóknarinnar er snúa að reynslu starfsfólks leikskóla af móttöku og starfi með flóttabörnum úr hópnum og foreldrum þeirra fyrsta árið. Fræðilegur grunnur rannsóknarinnar er í gagnrýnum sjónarhornum á menntun og skólastarf (Banks, 2013; May og Sleeter, 2010; Nieto, 2010) og fjöltyngismenntun til félagslegs réttlætis (Chumak-Horbatsch, 2012; Cummins, 2004; Skutnabb-Kangas, Phillipson, Mohanty og Panda, 2009). Gagnrýnin sjónarhorn á menntun og skólastarf og fjöltyngismenntun til félagslegs réttlætis eru mikilvæg tæki til að varpa gagnrýnu ljósi á reynslu barna af menntun og leggja til umbætur. Gagna var aflað með hálfstöðluðum viðtölum við starfsfólk sex leikskóla. Niðurstöður benda til þess að börnunum vegni vel í leikskólunum og samstarf við foreldra gangi almennt vel, ekki síst vegna góðs undirbúnings fyrir komu flóttabarnanna. Það eru þó ærin verkefni sem leikskólarnir standa frammi fyrir, og snerta m.a. ólík tungumál og menningu.

The Crash Course from Iceland

The years between 2006 and 2008 are key in understanding the Icelandic economic crisis. One of the main questions one gets when discussing the lessons from Iceland is: Was the quick recovery due to how the country ‘burned’ the creditors? Myth has it that when things got tough for the banks, the Icelandic government denied to bail them out and the country therefore escaped the difficult long-term consequence felt by, for example, Ireland. But that is a serious distortion of what happened. The Icelandic banks were on Central Bank life support from 2006 to 2008. It was only when the CBI ran out of steam that an alternative approach in crisis management was put in place. For admirers of historical contingencies, this case is of interest. Iceland did not take a calculated decision to let the banks fail, but an attempted bail-out failed. This meant that that its tackling of a banking crisis took an unexpected turn as banks were put into administration; a move only considered in the face of failure. And despite the route taken by Iceland, the total cost of the economic crisis for the State has surpassed Ireland’s and is one of the costliest any sovereign has faced in the ongoing crisis. This is interesting, given the ongoing discussion about the Icelandic ‘miraculous’ escape from an economic crisis and that the possibilities countries face during crisis management may be many more than those that are discussed.