Global Public-private Partnerships Research Articles

Evaluating Public-Private Partnership Dynamics: the Kazakhstan Toll Road Case

The holistic collaboration between the government and business through public-private partnerships (PPPs) is crucial in developing economies in transition. With the help of the PPP mechanism, emerging economies realize new and maintain existing social and economic infrastructure projects in education, energy, transportation, and healthcare. This lessens the funding burden on the state budget and attracts private investment and expertise into the economy. However, one of the critical tasks is to engage a suitable private partner with whom a long-term relationship can be built for mutual benefit. The most vital issue in establishing and maintaining the PPP collaboration with such a partner is related to the appropriate management of business risks. This study focuses on the success of an infrastructure project for a private partner by analyzing the critical risks inherent in PPP projects. The research uses system dynamics (SD) modeling, which qualitatively and quantitatively determines how each risk affects the project realization. The study examines the largest PPP project in Central Asia, the Big Almaty Ring Road. This toll road project is taken as a case to demonstrate the impact of the most critical risks on the success of the PPP projects. For the simulation, the “hard tolls” form, which is one of the popular payment mechanisms in the global PPP practice, is considered where the private partner bears most of the risks. The findings show the riskiness of such a payment mechanism in implementing toll road projects with existing traffic and tariffs under conditions of uncertainty typical for Kazakhstan and other similar developing countries.

The rising authority and agency of public–private partnerships in global health governance

Abstract Global public–private partnerships (PPPs) have become prominent in efforts to address global challenges, particularly in the health field. In the scholarly literature, global PPPs have been conceptualized as arenas for voluntary public–private cooperation rather than agents of global governance. This paper challenges this approach, arguing that a sub-class of highly institutionalized partnerships have developed into transnational bureaucracies that, much like international organizations, can draw from their administrative capacities to exercise agency and gain and consolidate authority over time. To substantiate this argument, I present an in-depth analysis of five global health partnerships that played a leading role in the Access to Covid-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A), the initiative that sought to coordinate the global response to covid-19. Based on extensive document review and analysis of the ACT-A PPPs —Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation, Unitaid, and The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics — I show how these partnerships’ leadership role during the pandemic emerged from a decade long build-up of PPP agency. These organizations gained administrative capacities that enabled them to increase their authority vis-à-vis their donors, boards, and other external actors through three interlinked strategies: (a) developing greater financial autonomy; (b) expanding their mandates (including toward pandemic preparedness and response); and (c) establishing inter-partnership cooperation and mutual representation to other forums. My analysis suggests the need for future research to consider highly institutionalized PPPs as agents of global governance and to explore empirically and theoretically the consequences of their rising authority.

Temporal and Spatial Evolution of Public–Private Partnership (PPP) Project Risks in China: 2003–2019

The implementation of public–private partnership (PPP) is perturbed by multiple factors, and it is difficult for the Chinese government to fully control the risks of PPP projects. Based on the DPSIR model, this study constructed the PPP projects risk evaluation index system by using the TOPSIS method. Then the spatial variation, standard deviation ellipse, and gray dynamic model were used to analyze the spatial–temporal dynamic evolution characteristics of the risk level of PPP projects from 2003 to 2019 and to make reasonable predictions of the future spatial distribution pattern. This study yielded the following five results: (1) the average risk level of China’s PPP projects is 0.722, with a decreasing trend of fluctuation and relatively stable risk; (2) high-risk provinces for PPP projects decrease, medium-risk provinces increase; (3) the spatial variability of risk is increasing, and the spatial differentiation is significant, showing a spatial evolution pattern of “west > central > east,” but areas with low-risk values are clearly migrating to the east; (4) the spatial distribution pattern of risk has a north-easterly orientation, with a “north-west to north-east” trend in the path of movement; (5) There are differences in the spatial distribution patterns in the east–west and north–south directions, and the spatial spillover effect is not obvious. Based on the above results, the risk center of China’s PPP projects will be shifted to the northeast in 2025–2035. Our study captures the evolution of PPP project risks in China in both temporal and spatial dimensions, which can provide lessons for optimizing global PPP project risk management.

Public Private Partnership with Chinese Characteristics: A Critical Review and Theoretical Framework

The localization and generalization of the public–private partnership (PPP) is a controversial issue discussed in the research agenda of PPP. China has played a central role in global PPP development in recent years. This study reviews the policy and development of PPP in China through the lens of punctuated-equilibrium theory. A conceptual framework of China-type PPP, including projects, organizations, functions, policies, and governance, is then developed for analysis and interpretation through global comparisons. This study indicates the possibility of a “China model” in PPP due to China’s distinct evolutionary process, characteristics, and representative PPP, but requires further extraction, summarization, and enrichment with sustainable development. In addition, the “China model” will have a potential peer-level value for other emerging markets.

Exploring Risk Factors Affecting Sustainable Outcomes of Global Public–Private Partnership (PPP) Projects: A Stakeholder Perspective

As a model for delivering infrastructure initiatives, public–private partnerships (PPPs) have gained significant popularity in recent years. The globalization of PPP has exposed them to elevated risks emanating from the international real economy and financial market, which can ultimately result in project cancellations or distress. This study analyzes risk factors affecting the sustainable outcomes of global PPP projects from a stakeholder perspective. After identifying the interests of key stakeholders and examining how various risks influence stakeholders’ interests, a two-step binomial probit model is used to investigate domestic and international risk factors in PPP arrangements based on the World Bank PPI database. The empirical results indicate that inflation has a substantially positive effect on project failure, while factors such as PPP experience, central government involvement, exchange rate fluctuations, etc., significantly contribute to PPP success. In addition, the study demonstrates that trade openness and net foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow are crucial for the transmission of global risks. The study also provides policy implications and recommendations from a risk allocation–stakeholder relationship perspective to enhance the resilience of PPP initiatives based on these findings.

Review of Successful Global Public-Private Partnerships: Extracting key Strategies for Effective U.S. Financial Collaborations

Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) have emerged as vital mechanisms for driving economic and infrastructural growth, offering a collaborative model that leverages the strengths of both the public and private sectors. This paper delves into the intricacies of PPPs, focusing on their evolution, global trends, applications in the U.S. financial landscape, and future directions. The U.S. PPP landscape, characterized by its unique political, economic, and social context, is influenced by various factors including governance, performance management, and the evolving public sector needs. Drawing on international experiences, the paper highlights potential sectors in the U.S. ripe for PPPs, such as infrastructure development, urban infrastructures, and state investment banks, among others. The work underscores the significance of understanding and adapting successful global strategies to the U.S. context, emphasizing that insights from global PPP successes can inform and optimize domestic efforts. However, challenges specific to the U.S., such as political and regulatory barriers and public perception of PPPs, warrant careful consideration. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, encompassing strengthened legal frameworks, active citizen participation, and the adoption of best practices from successful global PPP models. The paper anticipates a dynamic evolution of PPPs, influenced by technological advancements, socio-political changes, and emerging economic needs by forecasting future trends based on current global shifts. Recommendations are provided to bolster U.S. involvement, leadership, and innovation in this domain to position the U.S. as a global leader in PPPs. The paper culminates in emphasizing the transformative potential of PPPs in driving U.S. economic and infrastructural growth, while highlighting the paramount importance of a globally informed and adaptive approach to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of PPP initiatives.

Complexity of policy making in pandemic crisis: Harmonizing national policy with global prevention pandemic policy

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the complexity of policy making in the pandemic crisis in the current situation. How do the all countries make “trial and error” policy model in dealing with the dynamic changing environment. The administrative state's exclusive ability to guide and manage public policy and administration is increasingly being challenged in both developing and developed countries. The research approach is content review of official documents and online news from each continent, which is defined by a few nations, in order to get a broad image of how complicated policymaking is. This call identifies a slew of regional and global governance actors with sway over state administrative and policy decisions. The findings are there has been a proliferation of institutional procedures and policy-making mechanisms and beyond but frequently conflicting with conventional state policy processes of the government policy delivery. Upcoming Events Formal and informal institutions and actors, often in conjunction with national public administrations, but more often on their own, are at the heart of these policy processes. Multi-stakeholder ventures, global public-private partnerships, and global commissions are all examples of this.

Determinants of public–private partnerships: an empirical analysis of Asia

PurposeDespite being a global public–private partnerships (PPPs) leader, the Asian region is characterised by a wide PPP-divide, wherein select countries attract majority of PPP projects, while other countries fail to attract the requisite PPP investments. Against this background, the purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants of PPP projects in Asia.Design/methodology/approachUsing quantitative methods on secondary data, this study analyses the macroeconomic determinants of value and number of PPPs in Asia for the period 2010–2019. The methodology relies on panel fixed effects, random effects, two-step system generalised method of moments and negative binomial regression.FindingsResults underline the importance of the country’s experience with PPPs, physical infrastructure, financial sector development, market conditions, institutional quality and political stability in attracting PPP projects.Practical implicationsIdentification of the determinants of PPPs will assist private investors in making informed decisions related to the selection of countries for PPP investments, thereby increasing the likelihood of a project’s success.Social implicationsThe results are expected to enable countries to formulate policies aimed at attracting higher PPP investments, thereby propelling economic development and improvement in the quality of life.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first such study that comprehensively analyses the determinants of both value of PPP investments and number of PPP projects for Asian countries.

COVAX, vaccine donations and the politics of global vaccine inequity

BackgroundIn 2021, donor countries, the pharmaceutical industry, and the COVAX initiative promoted vaccine donation or “dose-sharing” as a main solution to the inequitable global distribution of Covid-19 vaccines. COVAX positioned itself as a global vaccine-sharing hub that promised to share doses “equitably, effectively and transparently,” according to rational criteria overseen by independent scientists. This article provides a critical analysis of the principles and practice of “dose-sharing,” showing how it reveals the politics at play within COVAX.ResultsDonated doses were an important source of COVAX’s vaccine supply in 2021, accounting for 60% of the doses the initiative delivered (543 million out of 910 million). However, donations could not compensate fully for COVAX’s persistent procurement struggles: it delivered less than half of the two billion doses it originally projected for 2021, a fraction of the 9.25 billion doses that were administered globally in 2021. Donor countries and vaccine manufacturers systematically broke COVAX’s principles for maximizing the impact of dose-sharing, delivering doses late, in smaller quantities than promised, and in ad hoc ways that made roll-out in recipient countries difficult. Some donors even earmarked doses for specific recipients, complicating and potentially undermining COVAX’s equitable allocation mechanism.ConclusionsCOVAX’s pivot from global vaccine procurement mechanism to dose-sharing hub can be seen as a “win-win-win” solution for COVAX itself (who could claim success by having access to more doses), for donor countries (who could rebrand themselves as charitable donors rather than “vaccine hoarders”), and for the pharmaceutical industry (maintaining the status quo on intellectual property rights and protecting their commercial interests). Although dose-sharing helped COVAX’s vaccine delivery, its impact was undermined by donors’ and industry’s pursuit of national security, diplomatic and commercial interests, which COVAX largely accommodated. The lack of transparency and accountability mechanisms within COVAX’s overly complex governance structure as a global public-private partnership enabled these practices.

Preventing Plastic Pollution with a Global Plastic Treaty and Public-Private Partnership for the Climate

Reducing the use of plastic is essential because plastic production involves an enormous use of energy and resources, which results in a high amount of carbon emissions that contribute to global warming. This article focuses on regulations concerning plastic, particularly, the coming global Plastic Treaty, which the UN is expected to adopt in 2024. The article argues that regulation will not be enough to solve the issue of plastic pollution; innovative and alternative solutions are necessary. The article further suggests public-private partnerships for the climate as a way of supporting the coming Plastic Treaty. Keywords: Global Plastic Treaty; plastic pollution; public-private partnerships for the climate; Resolution End Plastic Pollution; United Nation’s sustainable development goal; United Nations Environment Assembly

A bibliometric and meta-analysis of studies on public–private partnership in China

China is one of the countries with the highest public-private partnership (PPP) experience. Although numerous studies on PPP in China have been published in different international journals in the past decades, few relevant reviews have been found. In this research, a bibliometric analysis of 139 peer-reviewed articles on PPP in China is performed to reveal the research evolution and trend. Besides, a meta-analysis of 111 empirical articles among the total 139 articles is conducted using multinomial logistic regression to examine how data characteristics and analytical features have been utilized in this area. The major findings suggest that, first, many studies are published in the subject areas of Business, Management and Accounting, and Engineering, and most topics are discussed from the micro-level perspective. Second, the issues in the procurement phase lack enough attention. Third, for studies with different research themes, how data characteristics and analytical features have been utilized significantly differ. In general, how PPP studies are approached in China contrasts with the global PPP research. Future research directions are proposed. The research contributes to the global PPP body of knowledge and methodology by providing the first quantitative review of studies on PPP in China and by combining the research methods.

Discounting for public-private partnership projects in China

Public-private partnership (PPP) projects have played a critical role in providing infrastructure products and services in China. However, an efficient discounting criterion for PPP projects is still lacking, since the current constant discounting approach is independent of PPP projects' risk characteristics. This study investigates the impact of market risk and government credit risk on the discount rate for China's PPP projects using a consumption-based approach. We find that the discount rate for China's PPP projects in regions with high (low) local government credit risks is higher (lower) than that for general risky projects in the same industry. The proposed discounting model provides direct evaluation guidance for China's PPP projects. Further, the study provides a general analysis framework to determine the discount rate for global PPP projects.

Retro or Renewal: An Assessment of PPP Management and Policy in China Since 2014

Since 2014, public–private partnerships (PPPs) in China have experienced an impulsive new boom with a new PPP policy that has drawn wide attention domestically and internationally. In particular, development characteristics and performance assessments of projects in the new PPP boom are a hot topic. By comparing China’s PPP development in the last several years with that in the past thirty years, we explore its rationale and performance through a critical review using the following approach: first, we identify and analyze its seven new characteristics of investment scale, spatial distribution, investment sectors, operational model, concession period, payment mechanism, and tendering period; second, we diagnose the nature and performance of the new PPP boom; third, we systematically scrutinize the rationale behind the characteristics and the possible mechanism; and last, we conclude with the argument that the new PPP boom could be well managed by the Chinese government if some prerequisites are met. We also raise some key issues inviting more comprehensive comparative studies. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing a project-data-analysis lens to better understand PPP development in China and worldwide. The implementation of this study will not only enrich global PPP knowledge, but will also be a good reference for PPP practice and trends in China and other developing countries.

Multi-dimensional public–private partnership readiness index: a sub-national analysis of India

PurposeDespite being a global public–private partnerships (PPPs) leader, India faces a vast PPP divide at a sub-national level, wherein a few states receive the majority of PPP projects, whereas other states face severe issues in attracting PPP investments. This necessitates the identification of factors that make some states attractive to PPP investors. The purpose of this study is to construct a “PPP readiness index” at the Indian state-level, which aims to assess the readiness of states for the diffusion of PPPs.Design/methodology/approachUsing a quantitative method on secondary data, the study scores 17 Indian states on dimensions such as experience with PPPs, physical infrastructure, financial sector development, market conditions, institutional quality and political stability and fiscal constraints for each of the years during 2009–2018. Principal component analysis is used for assigning weights to the dimensions, thereby arriving at the composite index.FindingsResults highlight that Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra offer the most favorable environment for PPPs to flourish. In contrast, Jharkhand and Bihar are laggards because they score the least and have limited PPP experience.Practical implicationsThe index will assist the private sector in conducting a comparative analysis between state-specific PPP arrangements, thereby enabling them to make informed decisions prior to forging PPP arrangements. Further, the index will help the state governments in improving their PPP readiness by following the policies of the leading states.Social implicationsImprovement in PPP readiness of the states will enable higher PPP investments in infrastructure, thereby reducing infrastructure deficits. This, in turn, will lead to economic growth, development and an improvement in the quality of life.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that comprehensively analyzes the PPP readiness at a sub-national level in India.

The Bedaquiline Donation Program: progress and lessons learned after 4 years of implementation.

The Bedaquiline Donation Program was a global public-private partnership between the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and Janssen Therapeutics. The 4-year program was intended to accelerate access to bedaquiline (BDQ) by committing 30 000 treatment courses to more than eligible 100 countries. The program was designed to remove barriers by making the drug available through the Global Drug Facility (GDF); prepare TB programs to a changing drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) treatment landscape; improve quality of the entire DR-TB care paradigm; gather additional effectiveness and safety data in programmatic settings; and identify programmatic challenges associated with new TB drug introduction. By the end of the program (in April 2019), 80 countries had ordered 104 344 BDQ courses, of which 33 119 had been delivered (the rest were pending delivery). The introduction of new TB drugs offers hope to patients and an opportunity to transform DR-TB treatment with shorter, simpler and more tolerable regimens. The Bedaquiline Donation Program demonstrated that access to new drugs can be accelerated. Technical support to improve the overall quality of care is critical as are investments beyond the cost of the drug.

Effective strategies for developing retirement village public – private partnership

Purpose The growth in ageing population globally has led to the increase in demand for retirement or aged care homes. Adopting public–private partnership (PPP) in the global retirement village market has become the new approach to address some of the emerging challenges. This paper aims to explore and analyse the critical success factors (CSFs) for the adoption of PPP in the global retirement village market. Design/methodology/approach An empirical questionnaire survey was conducted with experienced practitioners in the global PPP and retirement village markets. Mean score analysis, normalization range method, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance and factor analysis were used for analysis. Findings Results show that out of the 27 CSFs identified, the most significant ones in developing PPP retirement village projects are “the age-friendly design of villages”, “appropriate location of PPP retirement village”, “reliable and accessible health and physical facilities” and “effective social inclusion and integration in villages”. Further analysis shows that the 27 CSFs can be grouped into 7 major factor groupings, namely, “effective project monitoring”, “financial support”, “social integration”, “effective contractual arrangement between parties”, “government commitment and support”, “sustainable design of village” and “effective payment structure”. Originality/value The outputs of this study will adequately inform retirement village developers, retirement village stakeholders and local government authorities of the best practices they should put in place to ensure the sustainable growth of the global retirement village market.

Production and Securitization of Foregin Infrastucture by “Team Korea”

AbstractThe financialization of infrastructure has emerged as a resolution for alleviating government budget pressures derived from chronic underinvestment in infrastructure and post-global financial crisis recession. Two interrelated phenomena are considered central features of the financialization of infrastructure: the transformation of infrastructure into an alternative asset class and the growth of public–private partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure development. In particular, the expansion of global PPPs has attracted the attention of various entities, including state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Recently, SOEs have participated in foreign infrastructure PPPs as private sector entities. Unlike conventional private sector involvement in infrastructure PPPs, SOEs aim to achieve public objectives and mobilize both public and private resources to enhance competitiveness within the global PPP market. In this paper, the specificities of SOEs participating in foreign infrastructure PPPs and their implications for the financialization of infrastructure are analyzed using a South Korean SOE: Korean Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation (KIND). This reveals why and how SOEs engage in foreign infrastructure PPPs via the drivers and business strategies of KIND. Moreover, it examines infrastructure PPPs managed by KIND to reveal how the business strategies of KIND work in practice. Consequently, this paper suggests that SOEs engaging in foreign infrastructure PPPs attempt to achieve policy objectives through the production and financialization of foreign infrastructure. In the process, SOEs actively take advantage of entities and resources from both the public and private sectors.

‘We are not a partnership’ – constructing and contesting legitimacy of global public–private partnerships: the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement

ABSTRACT While the legitimacy of global public–private partnerships (partnerships) remains contested, particularly within the fields of health and nutrition, they continue to proliferate. How do partnerships gain and maintain support and recognition in the face of opposition and conflicting perceptions about their legitimacy? Drawing on interviews, observations and document analysis, this article discusses how a nutrition partnership, the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement (SUN), has legitimized itself over time through different strategies and normative justifications – and explores the influence of various audiences in shaping its legitimation strategies. As SUN struggles to reconcile conflicting demands among its various audiences through discursive and institutional strategies, an increasing mismatch between SUN’s rhetoric as a country-driven movement and its formalized global governance structures has developed. The article shows how the study of legitimation of partnerships can reveal underlying political struggles that ultimately shape the distribution of power within global governance.

A Novel Global Public–Private Partnership Approach to Physician Education in Medical Nutrition

Abstract Objectives To assess a real-world global hybrid pediatric nutrition education program by measuring 1) e-learning test scores and percieved program ratings; and, 2) perceived quality of the overall program and participants’ plan to change their practice following a live symposium. Methods Retrospective cohort study of a novel hybrid global pediatric medical nutrition program using a public–private partnership framework that included academia, an educational platform, and industry. Following a pilot in India (2014) that was expanded to neighboring countries (2015), a one-year e-learning course followed by a live symposium was launched in 88 countries (2016–2018). Demographic data was comprised of characteristics such as age and country of practice using World Bank country income (WBCI) grouping. Program assessment include e-learning scores (knowledge scores) and ratings (perceived course quality and relevance to practice) as well as live symposium ratings (perceived quality of overall program and plan to change practice). A test scoring ≥70% was considered a ‘passing’ score to move to the next module. Likert scales (1 to 5) were used to rate perceived quality and relevance of/change to clinical practice (mean ± SD). Descriptive and ANOVA analyses were used. Results The sample consisted of 15,535 individuals. The e-learning completion rate was 96.6% (n = 15,009/15,535). The overall average e-learning testing scores was 86.3 ± 6.7 but these scores varied significantly by WBCI grouping (P < 0.0001). Using a Likert scale, the average perceived quality of e-learning was 4.18 ± 1.03, while that for clinical relevance was 4.12 ± 1.04 (n = 15,009). Of 3775 participants in the live symposium, 93.1% rated the quality of the symposium as ‘very good’ to ‘excellent’ while 86.7% of respondents planned to change their practice (n = 1779/2052). Conclusions The major finding of this study is that real-world global hybrid pediatric nutrition education is feasible, clinically relevant and as a result, a majority of respondents plan to change their practice. The findings of this study confirm recent views from global governmental and nongovernmental organizations, that public–private partnerships may be key to improving healthcare professional education and their practice. Funding Sources Nestlé Nutrition.

The Vascular Implant Surveillance and Interventional Outcomes (VISION) Coordinated Registry Network: An effort to advance evidence evaluation for vascular devices

The Vascular Implant Surveillance and Interventional Outcomes Network (VISION) is a Coordinated Registry Network (CRN) a member of Medical Device Epidemiology Network, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-supported global public-private partnership that seeks to advance the collection and use of real-world data to improve patient outcomes. The VISION CRN began in September 2015 and held its first strategic meeting on September 10, 2018, at the FDA headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. VISION is a collaboration of the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI), the FDA, and other stakeholders. At this annual meeting, leaders from the FDA, VQI, industry representatives, population health researchers, and regulatory science experts gathered to discuss strategic goals and opportunities for VISION. One of the key focus areas for VISION is linkage of VQI registry data to Medicare, longitudinal data sources maintained by various states, and other relevant data sources, as a model for efficient, cost-saving, and effectual evidence generation and appraisal. This would provide the means to expand data collection, assess long-term procedural outcomes across the carotid, lower extremity, aortic, and venous intervention datasets, and execute registry-based trials through the CRN structure in an efficient, cost-effective manner. Looking forward, VISION strives to validate long-term outcome data in the VQI using industry datasets, in hopes of using CRNs to make device regulatory decisions. With the guidance of a steering committee, VISION will provide vascular surgeons, industry, and regulators the appropriate data to improve care for patients with vascular disease.