Title: Responses to economic challenges - the preferences and reputation of market players in public procurement

Authors: Gyöngyi Vörösmarty; Tünde Tátrai

Addresses: Department of Supply Chain Management, Corvinus University of Budapest, H1093 Budapest, Fővám tér 8., Hungary ' Department of Supply Chain Management, Corvinus University of Budapest, H1093 Budapest, Fővám tér 8., Hungary

Abstract: Market players respond to economic challenges in public procurement in various ways to improve public procurement efficiency. Securing supply to ensure stable operations requires flexibility and openness. The aim of this paper is to compare practices in the period before the coronavirus pandemic, and after the lockdowns, which was associated with economic challenges. By exploring stakeholders' perceptions of conflict, this paper analyses the changes in attitudes of contracting authorities and tenderers in terms of reputation, trust, and communication. The results show more openness to joint problem-solving and informal relations with suppliers, which require a reassessment of the phenomena of unethical behaviour, information sharing and cooperation in procurement.

Keywords: public procurement; efficiency; reputation; conflict resolution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2025.145897

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2025 Vol.23 No.2, pp.194 - 208

Received: 11 Sep 2023
Accepted: 19 Sep 2023
Published online: 30 Apr 2025 *

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