According to recent estimates from the Open Contracting Partnership and Spend Network, governments globally spend USD 13 trillion a year on public contracts for goods, services, and works The OECD estimates that on average, public procurement constitutes around 12%–20% of a country’s GDP Yet even though it is one of a government’s activities most vulnerable to waste, fraud, and corruption, less than 3% of procurement spending is published openly. 

This paper reviews the available empirical evidence on the effects of open contracting on a range of outcomes, including cost savings and efficiency, reducing corruption, improving service delivery, and increasing social inclusion.