Konkurrence

Konkurrence is a term used in Danish and Norwegian to describe rivalry between individuals, firms, or groups that strive to achieve a goal, win a prize, or outperform others. The word covers both formal contests and the broader competitive processes found in markets and social life. In sports, media, and culture, konkurrence refers to organized events with rules, entrants, and judges, where success depends on relative performance.

In economics, konkurrence denotes the market condition where many buyers and sellers interact, with freedom to enter or exit and with some variety of products or services. Competitive markets tend to allocate resources efficiently, reward innovation, and push prices toward the costs of production. However, competition can also entail costs, such as duplicated effort, wasteful rivalry, or short-term price wars that harm long-term investment.

Public policy and law aim to preserve konkurrence by preventing anti-competitive practices. Competition regulation typically prohibits cartels and other agreements that restrain trade, restricts abusive behavior by dominant firms, and reviews mergers that could reduce market rivalry. The goal is to balance incentives for firms to innovate with protections for consumers and smaller competitors.

Measuring konkurrence involves analyzing market structure, entry barriers, and concentration, as well as dynamic factors like innovation and quality improvements. In modern economies, digital platforms and network effects present new challenges, making ongoing assessment of competitive conditions a central concern for regulators, businesses, and researchers.