Exploring differences in the american states’ procurement practices
| Pages | 3-28 |
| Date | 01 March 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JOPP-03-01-2003-B001 |
| Published date | 01 March 2017 |
| Author | Jerrell D. Coggburn |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management,Politics,Public adminstration & management,Government,Economics,Public Finance/economics,Texation/public revenue |
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT, VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1, 3-28 2003
EXPLORING DIFFERENCES IN THE AMERICAN STATES’
PROCUREMENT PRACTICES
Jerrell D. Coggburn*
ABSTRACT. This exploratory article examines the issue of state government
procurement. It uses original survey data to create a measure of reformed state
procurement practices, as suggested by the literature, and explores the ability of
several variables from the state policy literature to explain observed differences
in state procurement. Findings suggest that the states’ procurement practices
possess varying degrees of reform characteristics, that interest group diversity,
legislative professionalism, results-oriented management, and regional effects
each have significant relationships to state procurement practices, and that
several "classic" explanations of state policy are not significantly related to state
procurement practices. One implication is that procurement, like other forms of
state administrative policy, may not be readily explained by widely utilized
theories of state policy.
INTRODUCTION
Government spends a lot of money. This simple observation holds
no matter which level of government -- federal, state, or local -- one is
talking about. In fiscal year 2000, for example, the federal government's
total non-defense consumption and gross investment (i.e., total
purchasing) was $199.4 billion, while the combined level for state and
local governments totaled $1.031 trillion (Bureau of Economic Analysis
2001). And, despite signs of modest declines in recent years,
government's collective purchasing still accounts for nearly one-fifth of
the nation's gross domestic product (Thai & Grimm, 2000).
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* Jerrell D. Coggburn, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of
Public Administration, University of Texas at San Antonio. His research
interests are in the causes and consequences of administrative reform in the
American states.
Copyright © 2003 by PrAcademics Press
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