In this paper we explore theoretically the relationship between explicit and implicit/relational contracting distinguishing between the ex-ante decision to sign an explicit contract and the ex-post decision whether to actually apply it. We show, among other things, that the relational efficient...

Centralization of public procurement can lower prices for the government's direct purchase of goods and services. This paper focuses on indirect savings. Public administrations that do not procure directly through a central procurement agency might benefit from the availability of...

Economics and innovation scholars have long recognized the potential of public procurement to trigger innovation. To what extent has this potential been realized so far? What can be done to improve the performance of PPI in this regard? This paper addresses these issues by providing a literature...

The paper addresses the effects of social relations on cooperation (or collusion) in organizations and communities. Social and production relations are modeled as separate repeated strategic interactions. "Linking" them--by employing members of the same community or by encouraging social...

The paper characterizes the effects of social relations on agents' ability to sustain cooperation (or collusion) within organizations' teams or communities. We model social and production relations as separate repeated strategic interactions. "Linking" them, for example by employing members of...

We study networks of relations – groups of agents linked by several cooperative relationships – exploring equilibrium conditions under different network configurations and information structures. Relationships are the links through which soft information can flow, and the value of a network...