Partnering for good? An analysis of how to achieve sustainability-related outcomes in public–private partnerships

Abstract

Since 1987, members of the United Nations have strived for improving sustainability to fulfill the vision of sustainable development. Current discussions focus on the role of collaborations between public and private actors to realize social, ecological, and economic sustainability. This study explores how public–private partnerships may contribute to the achievement of sustainability-related outcomes by analyzing a longitudinal case in the German public bathing and swimming pool sector. The empirical findings illustrate how both external conditions, such as regulation or industry-self regulation, and internal elements, such as specific structure and process elements of the public–private partnership, contribute to sustainability-related outcomes. Results reveal an interaction of specific external conditions and some internal elements. Our findings serve as a starting point for further empirical investigations of the sustainable provision of public services via public–private partnerships, and form a basis for theory development. The revealed insights result in practical implications for partners involved in public–private partnerships.