Efficiency and Transparency in the Public Sector: Advances in Public Procurement in Latin America and the Caribbean (2002-2012)

Between 2002 and 2012, countries in Latina America and the Caribbean have made considerable progress in reforming their procurement systems in terms of savings in public procurement, transparency, and access of SMEs to the public procurement market. In 2012, countries in the region saved 13.7% in the public procurement of goods and services, equivalent to US$33 billion. Moreover, 70% of public contracting is published on the internet. This document analyses the impact of reforms in public procurement in the Region in the past ten years, and summarizes 'Efficiency and Transparency in the public sector. Advances in public procurement in Latin America and the Caribbean 2002¿2012', was prepared by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in cooperation with the Inter-American Network for Government Procurement (RICG in Spanish) and the Organization of American States (OAS).