Public procurement as a policy tool: The territorial dimension

Eckersley, Peter; Flynn, Anthony; Lakoma, Katarzyna; Ferry, Laurence

Abstract

We analysed 90,000 contracts involving UK local authorities between 2015-19 to examine patterns and potential drivers of regional sourcing. We found councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are much more likely to select suppliers based within their regions compared to their counterparts in England. We found no discernible trend of English councils increasingly preferring regional suppliers, and no correlation between party-political control and regional sourcing. We suggest contrasting institutional and political contexts determine these territorial differences and present a framework to explain supplier selection in these terms, incorporating a territorial dimension alongside more traditional left-right ideological factors.

Citation

Eckersley, P., Flynn, A., Lakoma, K., & Ferry, L. (2023). Public procurement as a policy tool: The territorial dimension. Regional Studies, 57(10), 2087-2101. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2022.2134850

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 5, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Nov 15, 2022
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Oct 6, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 9, 2023
• Journal: Regional Studies
• Print ISSN: 0034-3404
• Electronic ISSN: 1360-0591
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 57
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 2087-2101
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2022.2134850
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1190194