dreifireglunni

Dreifireglunni is a term used in Icelandic-language discourse to denote a triadic regulatory or normative principle, commonly translated as the threefold rule. It is employed as a heuristic for ensuring that policies or decisions satisfy three concurrent criteria rather than optimizing a single objective. The exact three criteria are not fixed; different authors propose different triads, but the central idea is that three considerations must be balanced simultaneously to avoid bias or unintended consequences.

Common formulations position the triad as transparency, accountability, and effectiveness; others emphasize inclusivity, legality, and proportionality; while some models highlight simplicity, consistency, and resilience. The concept is used across discussions of administrative law, governance, urban planning, and environmental policy in Icelandic scholarship, often as a facilitative framework rather than a binding rule. In practice, dreifireglunni serves as a check during policy design, impact assessment, and regulatory review, guiding decision-makers to document the rationale for competing objectives and to seek balanced trade-offs.

Critics note that, as a heuristic, the threefold rule can be difficult to apply when criteria conflict or when measurement is ill-defined; some argue that the lack of a universal triad can hinder comparability across contexts. The term remains niche, with most attention confined to Icelandic-language sources and specific policy debates rather than being a widely adopted doctrine.