The aim of this seminar is to explore the notion of bid rigging where groups of undertakings conspire to raise prices or lower the quality of the goods or services offered in public tenders. OECD countries spend approximately 12% of their GDP in public procurement. The elimination of bid rigging could help reduce procurement prices by 20% or more. Competition authorities may play a key role in preventing and tackling this anti-competitive practice, which costs governments and taxpayers billions of dollars every year. Expert competition officials will illustrate enforcement and advocacy actions conducted in their jurisdictions, also in light of the OECD Guidelines for Fighting Bid Rigging in Public Procurement.
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