0 Engaging the Private Sector in Transportation Infrastructure – The Role of Public-Private-Partnerships

1 Since a couple of years, we observe a controversial discussion about the role of the state in European transport infrastructure policy. Public Private Partnerships (PPP) are discussed as an outstanding alternative to the public provision of transport infrastructure. As first steps in practice show, however, it is much more difficult than common consulting driven literature on PPP asserts to make use of the benefits of PPP without bearing its negative consequences. Comparing PPP with traditional approaches of infrastructure provision has to address the different relevant types of cost. One can assess these costs using a so called comparative cost calculator. Empirical investigations show that private firms work more efficient than the pub-lic sector: Making Use of Private Public Partnerships leads to lower planning and construction costs and a shorter construction time for example. On the other hand, we have to take care of several risks connected with PPP. There are risks emerging during the planning and the con-struction period that are commonly known from conventional methods of infrastructure provi-sion. New kinds of risks, however, result from disincentives during the running period and th