Government Contracts for Legal Services: Does a Previous Contracting Relationship Alter Accountability?
Malatesta, Deanna and Craig R. Smith. 2012. Government contracts for legal services. Does a previous contracting relationship alter accountability? State & Local Government Review. 44(2): 113-126
29 Pages Posted: 13 Jul 2012 Last revised: 22 Jan 2015
Date Written: April 12, 2012
Abstract
This research examines 130 government contracts for legal services, specifically focusing on how decisions to include various accountability clauses are influenced by previous relationships between the government and its private sector contractors. Overall, the findings illustrate that prior positive contract experiences decrease the use of clauses that facilitate disclosure of information but increase the use of contract details. The evidence suggests an important role for relationships in new governance: Contracting with familiar contractors may reduce the cost and use of some forms of accountability but not necessarily reduce overall accountability.
Keywords: public sector contracting, accountability, contract design
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?
Recommended Papers
-
When Do Research Consortia Work Well and Why? Evidence from Japanese Panel Data
By Lee Branstetter and Mariko Sakakibara
-
Contractual Heterogeneity in Strategic Alliances
By Africa M. Arino and Jeffrey J. Reuer
-
Do Prior Alliances Influence Contract Structure? Evidence from Technology Alliance Contracts
-
Partner Selection and Governance Design in Interfirm Relationships
-
Trust and Formal Contracts in Interorganizational Relationships - Substitutes and Complements
By Anoop Madhok, Thomas Mellewigt, ...
-
Capabilities, Transaction Costs and Firm Boundaries: A Dynamic Perspective and Integration
By Nicholas Argyres and Todd Zenger