Variable measurement and operationalization matrix
| Variable | Type | Description | Operationalization | Expected sign | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n_contracts_defined | Dependent variable | Number of individual contracts awarded within a procurement procedure. | Count variable measuring the total number of contracts defined in each procedure | – | CONSIP |
| RdO | Independent variable | Indicator of procedural competitiveness (request for offers). | Dummy equals 1 = RdO (competitive procedure); 0 = TD (direct negotiation) | + | CONSIP |
| n_suppliers_w_contract_defined | Independent variable | Number of suppliers awarded at least one contract within the procurement procedure. | Count variable capturing the number of participating suppliers awarded contracts | + | CONSIP |
| RdO × n_suppliers | Interaction term | Interaction between procedural competitiveness and supplier participation, testing whether participation effects are stronger under competitive procedures. | Multiplicative interaction between RdO and the number of suppliers | + | Authors’ elaboration from CONSIP |
| n_PA | Control variable | Number of public administrations involved in the procurement procedure. Reflects institutional coordination and demand aggregation. | Count variable representing the number of participating contracting authorities | + | CONSIP |
| type_PA | Control variable | Type of contracting authority conducting the procurement procedure (e.g. ministries, municipalities, universities, hospitals and research institutions. | Categorical variable included as fixed effects | N/A | CONSIP |
| type_MEPA | Control variable | Type of procurement category within the MePa platform. | Categorical variable: 1 = goods; 2 = services | N/A | CONSIP |
| Product category (CPV) | Control variable | Product or service category according to the common procurement vocabulary classification. | Categorical variable included as fixed effects to control for sector-specific procurement differences | N/A | CONSIP |
| region_PA | Control variable | The region where the contracting public administration is located. Controls for regional institutional differences. | Regional fixed effects | N/A | CONSIP |
| province_PA | Control variable | The province where the contracting public administration is located. Captures local institutional heterogeneity. | Provincial fixed effects | N/A | CONSIP |
| region_supplier | Control variable | Region where the awarded supplier is located. Controls for geographical market structure. | Regional fixed effects | N/A | CONSIP |
| year | Control variable | Year in which the procurement procedure was completed. | Dummy equals 2024 | N/A | CONSIP |
| Variable | Type | Description | Operationalization | Expected sign | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n_contracts_defined | Dependent variable | Number of individual contracts awarded within a procurement procedure. | Count variable measuring the total number of contracts defined in each procedure | – | |
| RdO | Independent variable | Indicator of procedural competitiveness (request for offers). | Dummy equals 1 = RdO (competitive procedure); 0 = TD (direct negotiation) | + | |
| n_suppliers_w_contract_defined | Independent variable | Number of suppliers awarded at least one contract within the procurement procedure. | Count variable capturing the number of participating suppliers awarded contracts | + | |
| RdO × n_suppliers | Interaction term | Interaction between procedural competitiveness and supplier participation, testing whether participation effects are stronger under competitive procedures. | Multiplicative interaction between RdO and the number of suppliers | + | Authors’ elaboration from |
| n_PA | Control variable | Number of public administrations involved in the procurement procedure. Reflects institutional coordination and demand aggregation. | Count variable representing the number of participating contracting authorities | + | |
| type_PA | Control variable | Type of contracting authority conducting the procurement procedure (e.g. ministries, municipalities, universities, hospitals and research institutions. | Categorical variable included as fixed effects | N/A | |
| type_MEPA | Control variable | Type of procurement category within the MePa platform. | Categorical variable: 1 = goods; 2 = services | N/A | |
| Product category ( | Control variable | Product or service category according to the common procurement vocabulary classification. | Categorical variable included as fixed effects to control for sector-specific procurement differences | N/A | |
| region_PA | Control variable | The region where the contracting public administration is located. Controls for regional institutional differences. | Regional fixed effects | N/A | |
| province_PA | Control variable | The province where the contracting public administration is located. Captures local institutional heterogeneity. | Provincial fixed effects | N/A | |
| region_supplier | Control variable | Region where the awarded supplier is located. Controls for geographical market structure. | Regional fixed effects | N/A | |
| year | Control variable | Year in which the procurement procedure was completed. | Dummy equals 2024 | N/A |
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