2009年-世界发展银行全球_Review_of_Denmarks_Program_for_Better_Business_Regulation_32页_1mb

Summary of Denmark's Program for Better Business Regulation

Core Content

This report provides a review of Denmark's 2001–2010 administrative burden reduction program, focusing on its achievements, challenges, and recommendations for future regulatory reform. It highlights Denmark's strong performance in regulatory quality, as reflected in its high ranking in the World Bank's Doing Business report, and evaluates the effectiveness of its regulatory reform initiatives.

Main Viewpoints

Denmark has been a leader in regulatory reform, particularly in reducing administrative burdens on businesses. The country's focus on this issue has created visibility and spurred innovation. However, the report argues that the current program, while successful, needs redefinition and reorganization to address new challenges and align with global trends in regulatory quality.

The report emphasizes that regulatory reform should not only focus on reducing administrative burdens but also consider other impacts such as compliance costs, annoyance, and benefits. A broader and more integrated approach is necessary to achieve more comprehensive public policy outcomes.

Key Information

Regulatory Performance

• Denmark ranks first in Europe and fifth in the world on the ease of doing business.
• The 25% reduction target for administrative burdens by 2010 has been a central feature of the program.
• The Standard Cost Model (SCM) has been used effectively to measure and reduce administrative burdens.

Methodological Innovations

• The Danish business portal (virk.dk) has been instrumental in providing digital access to business forms and information.
• Burden Hunter and Analysis of 10 regulatory business transactions are examples of qualitative methods used to identify annoyance burdens and suggest improvements.

Challenges

• The 25% target may be difficult to achieve due to the relatively low current level of administrative costs.
• The current RIA system is effective for administrative burdens but lacks mechanisms to assess other regulatory impacts.
• There is a lack of distinction between administrative burdens and costs, leading to discrepancies in perceived and measured reductions.

Recommendations

• Policy Shift: Broaden the focus from administrative burdens to include other regulatory impacts and link it to broader public policy goals.
• New Targets: Introduce a net target for regulatory performance, focusing on direct compliance costs such as capital, operating, paperwork, and time costs.
• Institutional Reorganization: Move the Division for Better Business Regulation (DBBR) to the Ministry of Economic and Business Affairs to enhance its visibility and influence.
• Strengthen RIA: Develop a more comprehensive Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) system that includes all types of regulatory impacts, not just administrative burdens.
• Independent Regulatory Reform Council: Establish a Regulatory Reform Council to provide strategic advice, monitor RIA quality, and support the reform agenda.
• Enhanced Communication: Improve communication by using positive language and clear distinctions between service information and political reform messaging.
• International Engagement: Continue to showcase Denmark's regulatory reform experiences internationally and stay active in EU regulatory discussions.

Future Directions

The report recommends moving towards a consolidated regulatory governance approach, including:

• A white paper on integrating regulatory initiatives for businesses, citizens, and public administration.
• Institutional consolidation under a single ministry to coordinate reform efforts.
• Strengthened expert advice and monitoring through a new Regulatory Reform Council.
• Parliamentary involvement in regulatory reform through dedicated sessions or increased engagement.

Conclusion

Denmark has a strong foundation in regulatory reform, but to remain a leader, it must evolve its approach to include a broader range of regulatory impacts and ensure better coordination and institutional support. The report calls for a target-driven, cost- and benefit-focused strategy, supported by improved methodologies, formal vetting mechanisms, and enhanced communication. These steps will help Denmark maintain its position as a regulatory reform pioneer and contribute to a more effective and sustainable regulatory environment.