6 Risks of Public-Private Partnerships

Public agencies need money to finance their projects. Private investors see opportunities for a decent return. Sounds like a perfect marriage, no? Not so fast, says Laura Barrett, who outlines 6 reasons to be wary of public-private partnerships.

1 minute read

April 15, 2013, 7:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Although public-private partnerships are becoming popular at the local and national levels, Barrett says there's reason to be concerned about their growth. "While most Americans support the idea of building a sustainable economy and fixing decaying infrastructure, building up a national system of public-private partnerships is a whole other animal and needs to be carefully considered. The record on P3 agreements is mixed at best."

She identifies 6 troubling trends that beg consideration:

  • Little or no democratic oversight
  • Competition stifled
  • Public sectors are saddled with the risk
  • The voice of the community is missing
  • Opportunities missed for community benefits
  • Absence of strategic planning

Thursday, April 4, 2013 in Rooflines

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