Public–Private Partnerships and Regional Competitiveness: Mechanisms, Sustainability Dimensions, and Governance Conditions

Abstract

Public–private partnerships (PPPs) are increasingly considered instruments for addressing infrastructure needs and improving public service delivery. However, their potential contribution to sustainable regional competitiveness remains difficult to assess, particularly when project implementation is evaluated primarily through contract numbers and financial values rather than development outcomes. This study examines the mechanisms and governance conditions through which PPPs may contribute to sustainable regional competitiveness and proposes an integrated framework for assessing their potential economic, environmental, social, and institutional effects. The research combines a critical narrative review of the literature with a descriptive analysis of 212 PPP contracts concluded across Poland’s 16 voivodeships between 2009 and 2025. The empirical analysis examines temporal patterns, sectoral composition, regional distribution, and population-adjusted indicators of contract frequency and reported financial value. The findings reveal marked differences in the sectoral and territorial distribution of PPP activity. In particular, sectors accounting for the highest numbers of contracts do not necessarily represent the largest shares of total reported contract value, highlighting the limitations of using contract frequency as a standalone indicator of PPP activity. Building on the literature synthesis, the study develops a multidimensional assessment framework linking contractual arrangements and governance conditions with infrastructure and service outputs, sustainability performance, and longer-term regional outcomes. The findings suggest that PPPs should be assessed as context-dependent governance arrangements rather than inherently sustainable financing mechanisms. Their potential contribution to regional competitiveness depends on alignment with territorial development needs, effective risk allocation, measurable sustainability requirements, and long-term public accountability.

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