Editing Public–private partnership (section)

==Definition==
[[File:Gavin Newsom hosts employers about public-private partnerships - 2019-11-13.jpg|thumb|[[Gavin Newsom]] hosts a meeting for employers about public-private partnerships. (13 November 2019)]]
There is no consensus about how to define a PPP.<ref name="Marta Marsilio 2011 pp.763-782">Marta Marsilio, M., Cappellaro, G and Cuccurullo, C. (2011), The Intellectual Structure Of Research Into PPPs, ''Public Management Review'', Vol 13 (6), pp.763–782</ref> The term can cover hundreds of different types of long-term contracts with a wide range of risk allocations, funding arrangements, and transparency requirements.<ref name="Hodge, G 2007 pp.54ku558"/> The advancement of PPPs, as a concept and a practice, is a product of the [[new public management]] of the late 20th century, the rise of neoliberalism, and [[globalization]] pressures. Despite there being no formal consensus regarding a definition, the term has been defined by major entities.

For example, The [[OECD]] formally defines public–private partnerships as "long term contractual arrangements between the government and a private partner whereby the latter delivers and funds public services using a capital asset, sharing the associated risks".<ref>OECD (2012), Recommendation of the Council on Principles for
Public Governance of Public-Private Partnerships, https://www.oecd.org/governance/budgeting/PPP-Recommendation.pdf</ref>

According to David L. Weimer and Aidan R. Vining, "A P3 typically involves a private entity financing, constructing, or managing a project in return for a promised stream of payments directly from government or indirectly from users over the projected life of the project or some other specified period of time".<ref name="Weimer and Vining">{{Cite book|last1=Vining|first1=Aidan R.|title=Policy Analysis Edition No.05|last2=Weimer|first2=David L.|publisher=Pearson, Inc.|year=2011|isbn=978-0-205-78130-0|pages=309}}</ref>

A 2013 study published in ''[[State and Local Government Review]]'' found that definitions of public-private partnerships vary widely between municipalities: "Many public and private officials tout public–private partnerships for any number of activities, when in truth the relationship is contractual, a franchise, or the load shedding of some previously public service to a private or nonprofit entity." A more general term for such agreements is "shared service delivery", in which public-sector entities join with private firms or non-profit organizations to provide services to citizens.<ref name="JR-study">{{cite journal | last1 = Hilvert | first1 = Cheryl | last2 =  Swindell | first2 = David | year = 2014 | title =Collaborative Service Delivery: What Every Local Government Manager Should Know | journal = [[State and Local Government Review]] | volume = 45 | url = http://slg.sagepub.com/content/45/4/240}}</ref><ref name="JR-post">{{cite news | url=http://journalistsresource.org/studies/government/municipal/local-government-service-contracts-best-practices-issues | title=Local government services and contracts: Best practices and key issues to watch}} JournalistsResource.org, retrieved February 14, 2014</ref>

===Debate on privatization===
[[File:Manif_fonction_publique_22_mars_2018_(11706865883).jpg|thumb|Protest in France against encroaching privatization and the introduction of profit-seeking practices in the public sector. (22 March 2018)]]
There is a [[semantic]] debate pertaining to whether public–private partnerships constitute [[privatization]] or not. Some argue that it isn't "privatization" because the government retains ownership of the facility and/or remains responsible for public service delivery. Others argue that they exist on a continuum of privatization, P3s being a more limited form of privatization than the outright sale of public assets, but more extensive than simply [[Outsourcing|contracting out]] government services.

Because "privatization" has a negative connotation in some circles, supporters of P3s generally take the position that P3s do not constitute privatization, while P3 opponents argue that they do. The [[Canadian Union of Public Employees]] describes P3s as "privatization by stealth".<ref name=":0" />{{rp|chapter 1}}