Municipal fragmentation in Iceland’s capital area

Abstract

Iceland’s Capital Area is characterized by considerably high levels of municipal fragmentation as the area contains six adjacent autonomous municipalities. Presented here is a case-study of the area, of which very limited prior literature exists, using a method of semi-structured interviews with elite members of both the political and administrative spheres to place the area in the largely dichotomous academic debate on municipal fragmentation. The Capital Area deals with many of the negative consequences that the literature suggests is associated with municipal fragmentation. In turn, findings from this study suggests that the area in general does not seem to benefit from the assumed fundamental quality of fragmentation – inter-municipal competition. Findings also suggested noticeable predicaments in relation to planning for the area along with an indication towards a sub-par municipal legal structure. Seemingly, the area and its residents do not seem to gain much benefit from the fragmentation at all. Presented here is the argument that municipal fragmentation in the Capital Area is a spatial manifestation of an urban-suburban cleavage of which the Icelandic political party-system, due to its cartel-like structure, has vested interest in maintaining.