Public-Private Partnerships:

2006 This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF. The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) involve the supply by the private sector of infrastructure and services deriving from infrastructure assets which have traditionally been supplied by the public sector. PPPs are spreading all over the world. It may be quite plausible that such arrangements were initially an attempt to evade expenditure controls and hide public budget deficits. But if they are properly designed and transparently reported, PPPs can enhance the efficiency of the provision of services that were formerly supplied solely by the public sector