ABSTRACT
In Chapter 1 the conflict between the process of market liberalisation or market creation and industry-development goals was discussed. How this conflict impacts construction procurement policy and practice has been a strong theme in the work of the International Council for Building Research Studies and Documentation (CIB) Commission on procurement systems, CIB W92. Examples have been presented to CIB W92 from both the developed and the developing world, as well as from traditionally market-based economies and formerly centrally controlled economies. These issues are part of the remit of a new CIB group examining construction in developing countries [CIB Task Group (TG) 29]. Valuable lessons concerning construction procurement reform and its impact on or contribution to wider socioeconomic goals can be learnt from experiences of other countries even where the socio-economic environment is different.
