Paying for Planning

This briefing paper analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of public-private partnerships (P3s) as a tool to increase development of economic and social infrastructure. Many localities have a funding gap in maintaining their aging infrastructure, and P3s have the capability to deliver projects faster and at a lower cost than localities on their own. P3s operate in bundling, risk transfer, shared decision making, and private sector financing differently than traditional infrastructure contracts and can be financed long term through equity or debt.