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The valuation of risk transfer in UK school public private partnership contracts

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  • Khadaroo, Iqbal

Abstract

A number of studies have examined the public private partnership (PPP) policy and have questioned the risk transfer argument used by the UK government to legitimise its adoption. This paper contributes to the literature by illustrating how accounting numbers have been used to value risks and justify the PPP decision. Data from the full business cases of two UK PPP schools and semi-structured interviews are used to illustrate the complexities and subjective judgements involved in valuing risks and achieving optimal risk transfer. The analysis suggests that the accounting numbers used to value risks are not neutral or objective but are socially constructed and may be manipulated to justify the PPP decision.

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  • Khadaroo, Iqbal, 2014. "The valuation of risk transfer in UK school public private partnership contracts," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 154-165.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:bracre:v:46:y:2014:i:2:p:154-165
    DOI: 10.1016/j.bar.2013.12.004
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    Cited by:

    1. Cian O'SHEA & Dónal PALCIC & Eoin REEVES, 2019. "Comparing Ppp With Traditional Procurement: The Case Of Schools Procurement In Ireland," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 90(2), pages 245-267, June.
    2. Opara, Michael & Rouse, Paul, 2019. "The perceived efficacy of public-private partnerships: A study from Canada," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 77-99.

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