Corruption Risks in Indonesian Local Government Procurement: Evaluating Digital Procurement as an Anti-Corruption Instrument
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65815/1exfrs04Keywords:
Public procurement, e-procurement, local government, corruption prevention, IndonesiaAbstract
Public procurement represents a significant area of corruption risk because government contracts involve substantial financial resources and interactions between public officials and private businesses. Indonesia has expanded electronic procurement systems to improve transparency, standardization, and competition. This article examines whether digital procurement mechanisms effectively reduce corruption risks in Indonesian local governments. Using normative juridical and policy analysis, the study evaluates electronic procurement regulations, transparency requirements, procurement processes, conflict-of-interest controls, and monitoring mechanisms. The article argues that digitalization can reduce opportunities for certain forms of manipulation but cannot eliminate corruption when collusion occurs outside the digital platform or when procurement specifications are designed to favor particular suppliers. The study proposes an integrated anti-corruption framework combining digital transparency with beneficial ownership disclosure, conflict-of-interest declarations, procurement analytics, whistleblower protection, and independent monitoring. Particular attention is given to local governments where institutional capacity and oversight quality may vary significantly. The article concludes that electronic procurement should be understood as an enabling technology rather than a complete anti-corruption solution. Effective corruption prevention requires technological systems to be supported by institutional independence, data analysis, and meaningful enforcement.
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