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

FULL STORY: 6 Reasons to Be Wary of Public-Private Partnerships

Thursday, April 4, 2013 in Rooflines

Government / Politics Infrastructure United States Public-Private Partnerships

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