The work of Oliver Williamson (1932-2020) has made a significant contribution to economics in several ways. Firstly, by proposing a microeconomic analysis of Ronald Coase's theory of transaction costs. He linked different areas of the literature, proposing a new theory of the firm and market organization. In addition, his work has made a significant interdisciplinary contribution, recognized in economics, law and management. His analysis has prompted a reassessment of organizational boundaries and aconsideration of a world with "positive transaction costs".

The European Court of Auditors (ECA) has recently published a special report 28/2023, on public procurement in the EU. The Court makes a quite severe, wide-ranging critique of the state of competition for public procurements in the EU looking at the period from 2011 to 2021. It also raises question about the efficiency of 2014 public procurement Directives.