Implementing the OECD principles for integrity in public procurement: progress since 2008

With procurement accounting for 13% of GDP and a third of government expenditures on average in OECD countries, investing in appropriate processes to mitigate risks of waste and corruption leads to efficiency gains considering the financial stakes.

In 2008 OECD countries committed to promoting transparency, integrity, good management as well as accountability in procurement with the adoption of the OECD Recommendation on Enhancing Integrity in Public Procurement.

This assessment of progress made in OECD countries shows that as a result of austerity measures governments have been under tight budgetary constraints to provide smarter procurement, that is better service delivery at lower cost. Because environmental protection has become a growing societal imperative, the review of progress made shows that there is a strong political push in OECD countries to integrate environmental considerations in procurement.

With the economic crisis, some governments have been tempted to use procurement to ease its socio-economic impact on societies by providing a substitute for direct social policies to support employment for specific communities.

However few governments have invested in prioritising the objectives pursued through procurement, assessing their costs or benefits, and measuring their actual impact.