konkurrensutsatt

Konkurrensutsatt is a Swedish adjective describing a market, service or operation that is exposed to competition. In practice, it means that providers can compete for customers or contracts, typically through public procurement or licensing processes, rather than being protected by a legal monopoly or exclusive rights. The term is used in policy, regulation and public administration to indicate that a sector or function should be opened to competitive forces.

The concept is closely tied to the idea of competitive tendering and contestability. When a service is characterized as konkurrensutsatt, authorities may invite bids from private firms or other actors, compare offers, and award contracts based on criteria such as price, quality and efficiency. This contrasts with monopolistic or strictly regulated arrangements where competition is limited or not allowed. The aim is often to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service quality through market competition.

In Swedish public sector practice, decisions about konkurrensutsättning are part of broader policy debates about market openness, privatization, outsourcing, and effective use of public resources. The process may involve legal requirements for fair tendering, non-discrimination and transparency, as well as considerations of public interest, such as safeguarding universal access and quality of service.

Related concepts include konkurrensutsättning (the process of making a service konkurrensutsatt), upphandling (procurement), and természetliga monopol/reglerade marknader (natural monopolies and regulated markets).