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Procurement for sustainable local economic development

Laurie Kaye Nijaki (School of Policy, Planning, and Development, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA)
Gabriela Worrel (Freelance Writer and Urban Planner, Los Angeles, California, USA)

International Journal of Public Sector Management

ISSN: 0951-3558

Article publication date: 24 February 2012

7881

Abstract

Purpose

The paper seeks to demonstrate how local entities, such as cities and counties, can use environmentally preferable purchasing plans as a tool in developing the local green economy. First, the authors focus specifically on either the rise of economic development programs through buy‐local efforts, or the focus on environmental sustainability through green procurement programs. Second, the authors discuss how locally driven, environmentally preferable purchasing could be used as a strategy to marry these goals together and utilize procurement as a tool to achieve green local economic development.

Design/methodology/approach

This research used qualitative methods to examine both procurement for economic development through the use of buy local campaigns, in addition to environmentally preferable procurement policies that have been used to bolster environmental quality in communities.

Findings

Green local economic development can be achieved by melding together procurement programs previously singularly focused on either economic development aims, or environmental preservation. It is found that procurement can be used as a viable tool in fostering both economic and environmental goals, and as a key policy and planning tool for sub‐national governments in the pursuit of a green economy.

Originality/value

Given the increased attention of achieving sustainable development in communities, this paper seeks to re‐envision procurement as one crucial tool for municipalities and regional governments that seek to bolster green jobs in their communities. The paper seeks to develop a new framework for public procurement through this investigation.

Keywords

Citation

Kaye Nijaki, L. and Worrel, G. (2012), "Procurement for sustainable local economic development", International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 25 No. 2, pp. 133-153. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513551211223785

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2012, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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