The problem is when people realize they're not going to get paid, they also realize there's no reason to finish. After a constant stream of cost overruns the U

The problem is when people realize they're not going to get paid, they also realize there's no reason to finish. After a constant stream of cost overruns the US military tried to do fixed price contracts for awhile. What happens is the big players don't bid, or they do it through independent subsidiaries. Then when the project costs balloon the contractor comes to you and says "Look, you have two choices - either you can modify the contract so we can make money, or we'll declare bankruptcy and you'll have to write off every nickel you've spent so far."