In most countries, these dangers could be overcome by a transparent sale to the highest bidder.

ECONOMIST: Nationalising Indonesia

Therefore the availability of official documentation for sale to the highest bidder is a serious problem and deserves serious attention.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy

Finally, the serious enthusiast looking for the rarest of the rare should take a trip through the music listings at eBay, where you'll find everything from promotional one-offs to unusual imports, all for sale to the highest bidder.

CNN: Where to buy music on the Web

He says efforts should have been made to sell assets on to other lottery projects or to museums, rather than offering them to the highest bidder in a process he likens to a car boot sale.

BBC: Millennium Dome