International Cooperation and the Reform of Public Procurement Policies

40 Pages Posted: 7 Dec 2004

See all articles by Simon J. Evenett

Simon J. Evenett

University of Oxford - Said Business School; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Bernard Hoekman

European University Institute - Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies (RSCAS); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); Economic Research Forum (ERF)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: October 2004

Abstract

The stalemate reached on launching negotiations on most of the Singapore Issues at Cancun provides an opportunity to revisit the knowledge base upon which proposals for international collective action may be drawn. This Paper examines the available evidence on public procurement practices in developing countries that could be relevant to multilateral rule making. Although there is considerable agreement on ends (efficient, non-corrupt, and transparent public purchasing systems), little information is available on means: effective and replicable strategies that developing countries have adopted to improve their public procurement systems. A concerted effort to substantially add to the knowledge base on public procurement reforms in developing countries, through targeted research and international exchange of information on applied procurement policies and outcomes, is critical to identify areas where binding multilateral disciplines may be beneficial. The literature surveyed in this Paper suggests that reforms of public procurement systems are often guided by international instruments and templates, but are not informed by quantitative assessments of the cross-country experience as regards the different options, mechanisms and technologies that can be adopted. A research agenda to help fill these lacunae is presented - implementation of which might inform a WTO-based effort to identify options for international cooperation.

Keywords: Economic development, government procurement, WTO, Doha round

JEL Classification: F13, H57

Suggested Citation

Evenett, Simon J. and Hoekman, Bernard, International Cooperation and the Reform of Public Procurement Policies (October 2004). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=631005

Simon J. Evenett (Contact Author)

University of Oxford - Said Business School ( email )

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Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

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Bernard Hoekman

European University Institute - Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies (RSCAS) ( email )

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Italy

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

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United Kingdom

Economic Research Forum (ERF) ( email )

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