Public-private Partnership Program Research Articles

A contested organizational field perspective of the diffusion of public–private partnership regimes: evidence from India

Given the quantum of infrastructure that needs to be developed in India over the foreseeable future, private sector participation in infrastructure development is inevitable. The Government of India has taken several steps to enable public–private partnerships (PPPs) for infrastructure development at the state and municipal levels. While these schemes are available for most Indian states, their adoption has varied considerably. Some states have embraced the notion of PPPs and have leveraged the incentives and schemes initiated by the central government to craft vibrant PPP programmes. Others have chosen to ignore PPPs or create hybrid institutional forms for project delivery. In this paper, we analyse how the institutional environment for PPPs has evolved differently in three demographically similar states—Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. We make use of a contested relational perspective of organizational fields involving the use of strategic action fields as a theoretical framework to understand the dy...

‘Monday will never be the same again’: the transformation of employment and work in a public-private partnership

Under the public-private partnership (PPP) programme, private sector finance, management expertise and innovation are used in ‘partnership’ to modernize public services. However, advocates fail to account for the differing aims and responsibilities of the public and private sectors, in that private companies plan to make a profit out of non-profit public sector organizations. There is a paucity of critical empirical research into new ‘partnership’ forms of privatization and the implications that these have for employment and work. This article will examine the PPP of National Savings and Investments (NS&I) and some of the initiatives introduced and problems encountered, which resulted in the creation of a multi-tier workforce, together with the insourcing, outsourcing and the first ever offshoring of UK Government work to India.

Beyond ‘one size fits all’: how local conditions shape PPP-enabling field development

The use of public–private partnerships (PPPs) for infrastructure development has received significant scholarly attention of late, but there remains a need for more work at the programme level. Specifically, there is a need for work that recognizes the way that PPP programmes are implemented differently in different regions, thereby progressing beyond an effectively ‘one size fits all’ view of PPP programmes. In response, this paper offers a comparative analysis of the historical development trajectories of three contemporary PPP programmes: in British Columbia (BC) (Canada), Victoria (Australia) and South Africa. We begin by recognizing the role played by the UK's private finance initiative as a programme model, and then show how this model was adapted and modified in each of our cases, leading to very different field structures. The study uses a grounded theory building approach and draws heavily on theories of institutional change and structuration. There are two main contributions from this study: (1)...

Technology Leapfrogging: Findings from Singapore’s Water Industry

This paper illustrates Singapore’s strategy in catching up with global water treatment nations. Water is an important economic resource for Singapore, creating value-added jobs and stimulating research and development in various related technology trajectories. The analysis shows that from a nation lacking in competence in the water industry, Singapore has successfully transformed herself into a global hydrohub, exporting indigenous capabilities and offering consultancy for water projects. With long-term government policies and funding support for initial R&D and subsequent industry R&D inducement by means of the introduction of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) programme, Singapore has been able to build up her competence in waste water treatment. This is probably the first paper that analyses the development of the water industry in Singapore from the management of technology and policy perspectives.

How are the Evaluation Systems of Public-Private Partnership Programs Introduced in the Local Government?

How are the Evaluation Systems of Public-Private Partnership Programs Introduced in the Local Government?

A Feasibility Study of Public Private Partnership in Sustainable Ethiopia’s Coffee Quality Improvement Programme

The rainforests of the south western Ethiopian highlands are recognised as the birthplace of Coffea arabica. Ethiopia is the only country in the world where Coffea Arabica (L.) can be found in the wild. The forests that once dominated the highlands are considerably diminished during the last decades. This poses a massive threat to the survival of the genetic resources of Coffea Arabica, 99.8% of the genetic diversity of which is in Ethiopia. As a result, the diversity at origin of some 2,000 or more coffee varieties – unique in the world – is in danger of being irretrievably lost. The monastery islands and environ of Lake Tana had coffee from the South west forests planted 400 years ago by King Fassil of Gonder. This has created a natural ex-situ gene bank in an area otherwise covered with forest. Civilian population pressure since 1974 has reduced the forest for firewood and timber incomes and coffee has been neglected especially during the low price periods. In order to address these issues with sustainable livelihoods, the feasibility of a PPP programme is being studied, incorporating the governments with NGOs and private partners. This paper comprehensively analyses the approaches to study the feasibility and status of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Amhara region specially Zegey peninsula and Lake Tana Island coffee quality improvement. To collect the required information interviews were conducted with concerned stakeholders and a simple questionnaire also prepared and distributed to coffee producing farmers in Amharic language. Key words: Quality Coffee Berries, Pre & Post Harvesting method, Amhara region- Zegey Peninsula, Feasibility of PPP assistance

Effects of Prior Authorization on Medication Discontinuation Among Medicaid Beneficiaries With Bipolar Disorder

Few data exist on the cost and quality effects of increased use of prior-authorization policies to control psychoactive drug spending among persons with serious mental illness. This study examined the impact of a prior-authorization policy in Maine on second-generation antipsychotic and anticonvulsant utilization, discontinuations in therapy, and pharmacy costs among Medicaid beneficiaries with bipolar disorder. Using Medicaid and Medicare utilization data for 2001-2004, the authors identified 5,336 patients with bipolar disorder in Maine (study state) and 1,376 in New Hampshire (comparison state). With an interrupted time-series and comparison group design, longitudinal changes were measured in second-generation antipsychotic and anticonvulsant use; survival analysis was used to examine treatment discontinuations and rates of switching medications. The prior-authorization policy resulted in an 8-percentage point reduction in the prevalence of use of nonpreferred second-generation antipsychotic and anticonvulsant medications (those requiring prior authorization) but did not increase use of preferred agents (no prior authorization) or rates of switching. The prior-authorization policy reduced total pharmacy reimbursements for bipolar disorder by $27 per patient during the eight-month policy period. However, the hazard rate of treatment discontinuation (all bipolar drugs) while the policy was in effect was 2.28 (95% confidence interval=1.36-4.33) higher than during the prepolicy period, with adjustment for trends in the comparison state. The small reduction in pharmacy spending for bipolar treatment after the policy was implemented may have resulted from higher rates of medication discontinuation rather than switching. The findings indicate that the prior-authorization policy in Maine may have increased patient risk without appreciable cost savings to the state.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Infrastructure Public—Private Partnership Programs and Projects

Public—private partnerships (P3) have emerged as a popular strategy for infrastructure development worldwide. Within the United States, the momentum for P3 arrangements is building as states put enabling legislation in place, public authorities search for expedient solutions for the infrastructure funding gap, and investor capital becomes increasingly attracted by the risk/return profile of infrastructure assets. Proponents of P3's tout advantages whereas detractors claim that the expected benefits rarely materialize, or they are obtained at too great an expense. Thus, the following question arises: Are P3's effective as infrastructure development strategies? A framework, which might serve to both structure and assess P3 programs and projects, is presented. The framework has evolved since its original introduction and is underpinned by the notion that P3 strategies must balance the interests of society, state, industry, and the market for ultimate success. A case study of its application is presented to illustrate its utilization and potential.

A Dime a Day: The Possibilities and Limits of Private Schooling in Pakistan

This paper looks at the private schooling sector in Pakistan, a country that is seriously behind schedule in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Using new data, the authors document the phenomenal rise of the private sector in Pakistan and show that an increasing segment of children enrolled in private schools are from rural areas and from middle-class and poorer families. The key element in their rise is their low fees - the average fee of a rural private school in Pakistan is less than a dime a day (Rs.6). They hire predominantly local, female, and moderately educated teachers who have limited alternative opportunities outside the village. Hiring these teachers at low cost allows the savings to be passed on to parents through low fees. This mechanism - the need to hire teachers with a certain demographic profile so that salary costs are minimized - defines the possibility of private schools: where they arise, fees are low. It also defines their limits. Private schools are horizontally constrained in that they arise in villages where there is a pool of secondary educated women. They are also vertically constrained in that they are unlikely to cater to the secondary levels in rural areas, at least until there is an increase in the supply of potential teachers with the required skills and educational levels.

Effect of Prior Authorization of Second-Generation Antipsychotic Agents on Pharmacy Utilization and Reimbursements

Effect of Prior Authorization of Second-Generation Antipsychotic Agents on Pharmacy Utilization and Reimbursements

A Dime a Day: The Possibilities and Limits of Private Schooling in Pakistan

A Dime a Day: The Possibilities and Limits of Private Schooling in Pakistan

MO‐C‐AUD‐02: NIH Roadmap, Public‐Private Partnerships and the Biomarker Consortium

The NIH mission to improve the public health through biomedical research is accomplished by conducting research directly, by funding research through grants and contracts, and increasingly by partnering with any of a wide variety of partners. The synergy possible through the leveraging of NIH resources with the strengths of industry, professional societies, patient advocacy organizations, and academic partners allows work that cannot be done by any of the partners alone to be realized. Moreover, partnership can also facilitate increasing efficiency, economy and speed for translation of discovery to the public. The NIH Roadmap Public‐Private Partnership(PPP) Program is the center of such activities and policies, programs and examples of PPPs will be described, as well as ways that AAPM might take advantage of partnership opportunities.Educational Objectives:1. Understand the NIH position on PPPs.2. Understand PPP Policies and programs.3. Learn how new PPPs can be initiated.

PPP – policies, practices and problems in Ghana's urban water supply

Since the beginning of the 1990s, comprehensive reforms of the Ghanaian water sector were initiated by the Bretton Woods Institutions. The Government of Ghana was obliged to restructure the sector by establishing regulatory bodies, opening the sector to private sector participation and separating responsibilities for urban water supply from rural water supply. The parastatal Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) was created to be solely in charge of urban water supply. In spite of external assistance, GWCL continued to suffer from massive financial, managerial and technical problems. The gap between supply and demand increased while demand for potable water in the cities was on the rise and the supply systems were degenerating. In order to introduce greater efficiency, two options for public–private partnerships (PPP) were developed and contested, over a period of 10 years. At first private companies were invited to take over the GWCL by a lease contract. Numerous factors, among them a massive anti-privatisation campaign and global economic trends unfavourable to private investment, particularly in the water sector, caused a comprehensive revision of the policy and the modification of the PPP programme from lease to short-term management contract with an ensuing affermage concession in 2004. This process was to be supported by external donor agencies substantially upgrading the water supply infrastructure. However, it seemed doubtful if the recent policy would lead to a sustainable system of urban water supply and substantial improvements in the supply situation of the poor. Patronage relations were not sufficiently addressed and alternative PPP options based on local potential had not been considered. The case of Ghana raises issues of imposed PPP policies that are not based on adequate information about local, national and international framework conditions.

Public-Private Partnerships in Highways in Transition Economies

In many countries the private sector has been involved in financing infrastructure through concessions under a public-private partnership (PPP) program. PPP projects, however, are somewhat underutilized in countries with transition economies, where financing gaps are significant and growing, and there seems to be enormous potential for more private-sector involvement in the financing and operation of highway assets in such countries. The reasons for the low rate of private financing of roads in transition economies include relatively low traffic volumes, lack of appropriate legal frameworks, economic and political instability, and the consequently high perception of risk. As traffic increases on key roads, new legislation is enacted, and institutions and economic growth become more sustainable: it is likely that this sector of transition economies will become more attractive to private investors. This paper reviews the legal framework required for attracting private capital for PPP projects, possible steps that could allow a country to launch a PPP program for highways, the concept of greenfield and road maintenance concession programs, public-sector comparators, competitive selection of concessionaires, and the use of partial risk guarantees to mitigate risks. It also summarizes potential applications of the World Bank Toolkit for PPP in Highways as an instrument to help decision makers and practitioners screen potential PPP projects and define the best approach for a specific country.

Malaysian Toll Road Public–Private Partnership Program

Malaysia has relied on toll road public–private partnerships (PPPs) for more than 20 years to provide highway infrastructure. The program has been active; nearly 1,800 km of toll roads have been constructed or concession agreements have been signed for their construction. The public has been less supportive of the program due to low transparency and little public involvement. Public protests are common and may lead to long-term program instability. The complex, large-scale, interconnected, open, and sociotechnical process, developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is applied to Malaysia's toll road PPP program to develop policies that can better meet these public concerns while maintaining the financial viability of the sector. With greater transparency and public involvement, the program's political risks should be reduced and long-term stability for the government and concessionaires improved. Malaysian toll road PPPs currently are handled at the national level. However, it is argued that the focus should be at the regional transportation planning level, at which toll road PPPs can be compared with alternatives for meeting transportation needs.

Malaysian Toll Road Public-Private Partnership Program: Analysis and Recommendations for Policy Improvements

Malaysia has relied on toll road public-private partnerships (PPPs) for more than 20 years to provide highway infrastructure. The program has been active; nearly 1,800 km of toll roads have been constructed or concession agreements have been signed for their construction. The public has been less supportive of the program due to low transparency and little public involvement. Public protests are common and may lead to long-term program instability. The complex, large-scale, interconnected, open, and sociotechnical process, developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is applied to Malaysia's toll road PPP program to develop policies that can better meet these public concerns while maintaining the financial viability of the sector. With greater transparency and public involvement, the program's political risks should be reduced and long-term stability for the government and concessionaires improved. Malaysian toll road PPPs currently are handled at the national level. However, it is argued that ...

Telecommunications reform in Indonesia: Achievements and challenges

Telecommunications reform in Indonesia has occurred in two phases. In the first, from 1989, private participation was permitted in the fixed-line sector through public–private partnership (PPP) arrangements. In the current reform phase, which began in 1999, a duopoly structure was created in fixed-line sector operations, accompanied by a pro-competitive regulatory regime. The first reform phase was not successful. This paper explains that contract-based PPP programs provided only short-term solutions to the problem of lack of capacity. The more wide-ranging 1999 reforms acknowledge the importance of competition and a sound regulatory regime in telecommunications reform, but there are still limits on market entry, and the problems of lack of interconnection and network development disparities remain.

NCI Announces Public-Private Partnership Program to Stimulate Translational Research

NCI Announces Public-Private Partnership Program to Stimulate Translational Research

Public—Private Partnerships in Ireland: Policy and Practice

Ireland's National Development Plan 2000–2006 includes a significant programme of public—private partnerships (PPPs). The Irish Government's policy on PPPs has been shaped to ensure that capital investments under PPP are not included when calculating key fiscal aggregates. This article traces the origins of Ireland's PPP programme and outlines the extent of PPP activity to date. It details how the PPP programme has failed to make an impact in terms of addressing Ireland's infrastructure deficit and examines three particular cases where the PPP model has been applied.

Privatizing indigent health services in Los Angeles County: understanding the effects on community-based providers.

Faced with imminent financial collapse of its public healthcare system, the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services solicited community-based providers to supply primary care health services to the medically indigent. This study highlights the effects that participation in the programme has had on these community providers. While strongly committed to the programme's objectives, community providers tended to overextend themselves financially, putting their organizations at substantial risk of failure should contractual expectations or patient demand forecasts not be met. Because of this risk, policymakers involved in public-private partnerships with community-based providers must exercise extreme caution owing to the unique status many of these providers hold as centrally positioned actors in their communities. On the positive side, we found evidence of increased levels of co-operation and innovation between community providers outside their formal roles in the county-sponsored public-private partnership programme.