Desiderata: Objectives for a System of Government Contract Law

Abstract

This brief paper - presented at a symposium presented for a developing nation engaged in drafting of a government procurement law - offers a diverse menu of aspirations frequently mentioned in the context of public purchasing. This paper introduces nine goals frequently identified for government procurement systems: (1) competition; (2) integrity; (3) transparency; (4) efficiency; (5) customer satisfaction; (6) best value; (7) wealth distribution; (8) risk avoidance; and (9) uniformity. The exercise of identifying aspirations is important, particularly because it is difficult for legislators or policymakers to articulate what they hope to achieve through a buying regime. While no system can achieve all of these goals, determining which goals are most important is a daunting, ever-evolving challenge.

JEL Classification: H57