Diversification or convergence
Authors: Cheng Zhe , Ke Yongjian , Yang Zhenshan , Cai Jianming , Wang Huanming 
Published: January 2020

PurposeAs an innovation model for infrastructure and public service delivery, public–private partnership (PPP) has been widely adopted around the world. The knowledge spillover effect and policy diffusion mechanism have played an important role in promoting the development of PPP in the context of globalization. A comparative evaluation of the policy and management of PPP in different countries will help to understand the development of PPP, provide decision-making reference for PPP policy embedded with specific national conditions of each country, and also contribute to the global PPP knowledge body.Design/methodology/approachBased on the principle of comparability and representativeness, this study selected three countries, namely, China, India, and the United Kingdom for comparative analysis. This study first introduced the policy process and key institutions of PPP in three countries. Secondly, a comparative analysis of the development characteristics and application of PPP was conducted based on the official database of three countries. Finally, the differences, influencing factors and development trends of international PPP development were analyzed based on the comparative research results, and suggestions for PPP policy and management were put forward.FindingsThe research results indicate the development fluctuation and unbalanced spatial distribution of PPPs are a common phenomenon in the three countries. The UK has a significant impact on the policy and development of PPP in other countries. However, under the combined influence of factors such as economic, urbanization, political regime and social culture, there are significant differences in the PPP institution, application, and project characteristics in various countries. Due to international exchanges and knowledge spillovers, as well as the promotion of intermediaries, the development of PPP worldwide tends to converge.Practical implicationsThrough conducting an international comparison of PPPs based on project data, this study provides a detailed and visualized overview of PPPs and a better understanding of PPP policy and management in different countries. The findings will be of interest to PPP investors, officers, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and analysts. It enriches the portrait of global PPP market research, helps governments to improve the design of PPP institutions and policies, and provides references for decision-making of international investors when stepping into a new market.Originality/valueThis study is the first attempt to systematically compare and analyze the global PPP difference and development trend based on PPP project databases of different countries. Different from previous PPP comparative research based on perception data, the project data-based comparative analysis in this study is helpful to understand the characteristics, interrelations, and trends of global PPP development and enrich the existing PPP knowledge body. This study also proposes that it is possible to establish a global PPP knowledge community in the context of globalization and global production network.