The impact of strategy on public sector set-aside programs: the case of the state of Ohio

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of program strategy on the implementation of the efficacy of a procurement set-aside program at the state level.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the impact of program implementation strategy across two administrations considering the most compelling alternative arguments for what drives agency purchasing through contracts with MBEs.

Findings

The results of mixed effects linear regression models on the procurement expenditures of 70 state agencies in Ohio from 2008-2015 show significantly higher rates of procurement expenditures with MBEs under the Kasich administration.

Originality/value

These results provide support for the argument that changes in program implementation strategy led to substantive increases in the use of MBEs by state agencies in Ohio.

Citation

Blount, I.Y., Seetharaman, J. and Brown, T.L. (2018), "The impact of strategy on public sector set-aside programs: the case of the state of Ohio", Journal of Public Procurement, Vol. 18 No. 1, pp. 31-49. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOPP-03-2018-003