Developing a suitability assessment model for Public Private Partnerships: a case in urban China

Spatial heterogeneity is a fundamental aspect of Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). The appropriateness of PPPs varies across regions, yet suitability assessment has received limited attention. Using China as a representative case, this study develops a city-level PPP suitability assessment model and evaluates 287 prefecture-level cities. Results reveal considerable spatial variation. Using the natural breakpoint method, cities are grouped into four suitability levels—high, medium, low, and unsuitable. A total of 219 cities were identified as either unsuitable or of low suitability, suggesting PPPs may not be broadly applicable in the current Chinese context. The study lays the groundwork for sustainable PPP application in China and informs strategies for successful PPP implementation globally.