More on Public-Private Partnerships

“ Can PPPs Save Detroit?” asks a great piece at Next American City comparing the fates of Indianapolis and Detroit since the late 70’s.  The theory goes that because Indiana law favored public-private partnerships (like the broadband projects discussed this week), Indianapolis was able to bounce back from de-industrialization where Michigan’s barriers to such partnerings prevented Detroit from doing the same.

The article raises a point that bears to be discussed further.  Anti-privatization stands, like Michigan’s, possibly grew out of “lingering mistrust of the private sector stemming from the Depression era.”  Can we say now that the private sector is in good stead with the public, or is it just that cities are finding no alternative?