Collusive bidding in the construction industry: a systematic review of organizational forms, mechanisms and anti-collusion strategies

Collusive bidding, an illegal practice among contractors competing for construction contracts, presents a material impediment to sustainable industrial development. While the popularity of collusive bidding has attracted scholarly attention, previous studies have exhibited three distinctive limitations: ambiguous delineation of organizational forms, fragmented analysis of collusion mechanisms and inadequate evaluation of anti-collusion strategies. To address these gaps, a systematic review was conducted to examine the relevant literature on collusive bidding. Drawing on 106 articles (1990–2025), a comprehensive framework was derived: (1) classification of organizational forms, (2) integration of multidimensional mechanisms, and (3) systematic assessment of anti-collusion strategies. The review identified critical knowledge gaps in vertical collusion and state-corporate crime-related areas, while also highlighting shortcomings in current detection methods for collusive bidding, particularly in terms of their limited monitoring channels and time lag issues. By enhancing the theoretical understanding of collusive bidding, the study not only guides future research but also provides policymakers and industry practitioners with actionable interventions to deal with collusive bidding in the new era of digital transformation.