The prevalence of public values in public private partnerships for government digitalisation: A systematic review of the literature

Abstract

This study presents a systematic literature review of 74 articles examining public-private partnerships (PPPs) in digitalisation projects, analysing how public values are represented in this literature. It contributes to the literature by systematically mapping how public values are discussed in PPP-driven digitalisation, distinguishing between their role as internal governance mechanisms (internal public value enablers) and their broader societal effects (external public value outcomes). It also identifies gaps in empirical research, particularly in understanding public value conflicts and trade-offs in PPPs. While public values such as efficiency, participation, and accountability are the most frequently cited in the literature, other values such as accessibility, trust and proportionality also emerged. Despite the collaborative nature of PPPs, our review uncovers conflicts between public and private sector motives, emphasizing the need for public sector actors to actively safeguard public values. The study thus contributes to a broader understanding of public values representation in the context of digitalisation projects.