Administrative burden in public contracting: are bidders looking away?

Abstract

Countries devote significant public resources to procurement, yet the processes remain complex and hindered by participation barriers. This experimental study innovatively draws on the administrative burden literature, presenting a real solicitation (higher burden) and a behaviourally intervened version (lower burden). Findings reveal that higher experiencing of burden reduces willingness to collaborate with government, even when eligibility is met. Although subject to boundary conditions, the effects are modestly attributable to state actions and underscore their role in shaping business-state interactions, while also offering preliminary steps to tackle contracting processes accessibility. Procurement research can benefit from underused behavioural and individual level approaches.