Circular Economy (CE) is a framework for sustainability based on restorative and regenerative systems. This paper presents preliminary findings from an ongoing case study of the British wheat food supply chain, using dimensions of Transaction Cost Economics (TCE), to clarify the role of transactions in the diffusion of CE practices. It uses content analysis of semistructured interviews to elucidate what CE practices and material flow are in operation in the supply chain. While financial considerations are the main factor driving CE adoption, transactions can also function as an indirect driver to CE adoption via assurance/certification schemes requirements that also reduce overall uncertainty. Asset specificity does not play a significant role in the wheat food circular supply chain, except for specific (niche) programs. Verticalized operations and repeated, long-term partnerships between buyers and suppliers facilitate CE-related transactions since high uncertainty act as a barrier to CE operations.

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Culture, governance and procurement remains under-researched in current academic literature within a smart city transportation context, with evidence suggesting that procurement is a much-needed aspect of bringing about change at local government level; however, little evidence exists to support this. This paper showcases the research based upon the "Network Northamptonshire" total transport project, whereby a review of the county's transportation, both public and 10 private, is being undertaken in order to gain greater economies of scale across a shared cross-border knowledge exchange in the UK. Through the process of "Network Northamptonshire", the research team have identified and created a theoretical framework "total transport smart city procurement" that brings together much-needed elements of peer-reviewed research that purport success in the delivery of the smart city concept, allied to identifying gaps in the literature relating to best in class business practice that could, in tandem with the "Network Northamptonshire" 15 transportation network, deliver a horizontally aligned network of private, public and voluntary bodies allied to a sustainable solution that eradicates challenges associated with culture, governance and procurement to deliver economic and social good. Furthermore, the paper demonstrates that there is a disconnect between the ideals of the smart city and actual development needs, having identified that purported risks such as population movements to areas of low to high technology can actually be leveraged as an asset in sustainable development. Therefore, the authors support the need for 20 further research in the area of smart cities' connection to culture, governance and procurement through the framework in order to convey the wider European smart city concept and continue the sharing of best practice to bring about economic and socially connected conurbations.