International Research Study of Public Procurement

In this chapter we examine the specific issue of public procurement, its importance to local, regional, national, and international economies as evidenced in a unique international comparative research study – the International Research Study of Public Procurement (IRSPP). First the public procurement literature is examined. Then the story of IRSPP is told – why and how it was formed, and the five phases of research that have been conducted to date since 2003. The phases build on prior phases as knowledge and priorities for research have unfolded. To date IRSPP has contributed to knowledge and changed public procurement practice internationally, specifically relating to understanding international differences and similarities, understanding sectoral issues, examining capacity and capability, exploring the strategic role of public procurement in supporting and delivering economic stimulus packages, and examining how governments can improve engagement of small to medium enterprises in government procurement contracts. It is concluded that it is not necessarily the case that the developed world is outperforming less developed nations; powerful lessons have been learnt from developing nations in terms of their ability to use public procurement as a lever of economic and societal reform and integrate it more fully in government policy and practice.