Problem is the asymmetric Power in the Partnernship between the Private and the Public.
Private power >> public power - so it is never an equal partnership for a number of reasons.
Skills in writing RFP, judging bids, (i.e. contract law, and technology expertise) are way lower on public side than private. So when it comes to getting the right constrains on bidders, things will be in the hands of the (often) unscrupulous companies. Even corporate private organisations with the best of intions are required (legally) to maximise shareholder value, where as governments act (hopelly) on behalf of maximising citizenship welfare. In many scenarious, these are incompatible goals
The Tony Blair PM era of UK politics was in many regards succesful at improving healthcare and education, but part of that did employ PPPs - the long term legacy of that is really quite bad.
Then there's only one P (private) and one P (piblic) so you are in a monopolistic (monogamy) relationship.
Note state team pay << private pay, so you will have a steady flow through that revolving door.Once people gain any level of confidence and competence, combined with their inside knowledge, they become immensely valuable to the "other side".
