Procure Better: An Evaluation of Private Ambulance Providers’ Efficiency in Emergency Medical Services under New Contractual Regulations

A common argument against the economic theory that certain services are unsuitable for private providers is that the issues instead stem from inadequate expertise on the part of the contract issuer. With better bidding processes and stricter requirements, outsourcing could be advantageous. By examining a change in requirements and expertise in Stockholm’s bidding process for the ambulance sector, we can address whether certain welfare services are inherently unsuitable for outsourcing or if increased expertise can overcome the problems (low quality) predicted by the theory. Funder: Swedish Competition Authority.