CONTRACTING OUT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

This article deals with contracting out of civil science and technolog y services. Implementation of Canadian government programs in conserva tion and renewable energies is analyzed, as are characteristics of pub lic sector demand in relation to the choice of contractors. Data show that public and nonprofit sectors benefit most from contracts, even th ough the manufacturing sector originally was the targeted clientele. T his is explained, first, by public sector demand that did nor correspo nd to research and development done by firms and, second by the fact t hat public sector and nonprofit organizations are in a favorable posit ion to obtain contracts due to closer relations with public organizati ons. The contracting out policy has contributed to the development of organizations that share common characteristics with the public sector .