41. Aid procurement and the development of local industry: A question for Africa
- Author:
- Christine Zhang and Jeffrey Gutman
- Publication Date:
- 06-2015
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- The Brookings Institution
- Abstract:
- Economic development is often tied to the evolution of local industry. One way to assess a country’s emergence as a major player in the global economy is by examining the ability of its domestic firms to compete on the global market. Public procurement—the purchase of goods, works, and services by governments—represents a significant portion of this market, making up an estimated average of 15 to 30 percent of a country’s GDP. Procurement in the developing world is especially noteworthy, since large projects are often partially or wholly financed by external donors such as the World Bank and other international financial institutions (IFIs), which encourage developing country governments to internationally advertise the goods, works, or services they require and to select the most competitive bid they receive. Yet the role of IFI-funded procurement in the emergence of global markets, particularly for and among developing countries, is seldom a topic of empirical study, despite its linkages to global growth.
- Topic:
- Development, Economics, Emerging Markets, World Bank, and Developing World
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus