Understanding the Impact of Collaborative Governance on Sustainability: Evidence from Buying Green in Local Governments in Florida, USA

ABSTRACT

This paper analyzes collaboration patterns in procurement and outcomes as well as the impact of collaboration on green public procurement (GPP) implementation. It draws data from case studies in local governments in Florida and examines the literature on collaborative governance and resource exchange theory. The findings highlight collaboration patterns and note that collaboration may lead to economies of scale, more agile procurement, and enhanced capacity. The study also notes that GPP generally emerges as an unintended by-product of collaboration, rather than a deliberate outcome. It further offers evidence of the conditions under which collaboration can be leveraged to improve GPP.

KEYWORDS:

• Public management
• collaborative governance
• public procurement
• environmental policy
• sustainability

Acknowledgments

The financial support from the FIU University Graduate School through the Dissertation Evidence Acquisition Fellowship and the Dissertation Year Fellowship has greatly contributed to the completion of this work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. NIGP: The Institute for Public Procurement is a nonprofit organization aiming to advance the public procurement profession through education and research programs, providing professional assistance, delivering technical services, and leading advocacy initiatives that serve the interests of its members.

2. Cooperative purchasing (a form of collaboration).

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