Risks, Challenges and Value for Money of Public–Private Partnerships. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chung, Demi
• Other Names: Hyndman Noel guestEditor.; Lapsley Irvine guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Financial accountability & management. Volume 32:Number 4(2016:Nov.)
• Page Start: 448
• Page End: 468
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: public‐private partnerships -- risk -- value for money -- reintegration risk -- end of concession; Finance, Public -- Accounting -- Periodicals; Accounting -- Periodicals; Managerial accounting -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Periodicals; 658.159
• DOI: 10.1111/faam.12101
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0267-4424

Abstract

Abstract: This study examines the unique issues, challenges and risks emerging at the end of a public‐private partnership (PPP) concession. The M4 motorway is the first Australian PPP that has reached the end of its concession. The absence of formal guidance on contractual closure created challenges for the partners in interpreting contract ambiguities, and in reaching agreement on the processes needed to close the contract. These challenges had posed several relational risks, the mitigations of which were supported by the relational contract partners developed over the concession term, and their reciprocity and ethical motivations. The reintegration risk emerged in the handback exemplifies the limits of controls designed for legitimacy concerns to resolve coordination problems. The political settlement for value for money was gestured by lifting the toll after the concession ended. In providing unparalleled empirical evidence against the long‐term 'myths' of PPPs, the study counters the criticism over PPPs' impossibilities to handle uncertainties and to transfer risk.