What is often the result of bid rigging?

Bid rigging typically results in higher project costs for owners, primarily because the collusion among contractors leads to artificially inflated bids. In instances where contractors work together to manipulate the bidding process, the competitive nature of the market is undermined, causing owners to pay more than they would in a fair bidding environment.

When contractors are engaged in bid rigging, they coordinate their proposals and may agree on project costs before submitting bids, which eliminates genuine competition. This results in owners being charged excessive amounts for construction services, as the price set does not reflect the true market value based on competitive bidding.

While other choices may touch on aspects related to bid rigging, such as decreased competition among contractors or increased profitability for those involved in the rigging, the most direct and measurable outcome that affects owners and the overall integrity of the bidding process is indeed the higher project costs they incur.