Outsourcing, contracting out the delivery of public services from the public sector, is often presented as the cheapest option for public finances. This is not the case. Research from the Association for Public Service Excellence and the Scottish Trade Unions Council (STUC) shows that outsourcing, in its many forms, has come at a high economic cost for which workers, public services, and the public purse are paying the price. This briefing summarises this research and highlights the damage outsourcing causes to staff, public services, and the economy.