Book review: Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in Emerging Economies by Dr Augustine Arimoro

Abstract

If it is true that the absence of infrastructure has resulted in the decelerated nature of
development as well as rendered ineffective many development interventions by multilateral
institutions, then the need for governments and policymakers to explore alternative means (to
traditional public procurement) for engaging infrastructural deficits is crucial. Furthermore, if
it is now settled that governments of emerging economies by themselves alone lack the
capacity to provide development infrastructure, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are a
means to support the efforts at providing same, whilst reducing risks and increasing
profitability, then a research output which examines how the concept unravels and is
administered in emerging economies is important. Such output will enable conversations into
means through which the concept may be deployed for development while reflecting on the
gaps in legal frameworks and institutions that make implementation very difficult. There
could be no better time for the discussions in this book, as more Emerging Markets and
Developing Economies (EMDE) now than ever, have begun to appreciate the extents to
which their development aims have been undermined by the absence of infrastructure, and
the need to tap private capital to respond to the issue.