PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IN DEVELOPING ASIA: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF CHALLENGES AND FUTURE RESEARCH AGENDAS

Abstract

This study conducts a systematic review of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) literature in Asia to identify research trends, thematic concentrations, and critical challenges, with a particular focus on Indonesia, China, and India. Employing the PRISMA framework, a final corpus of 47 articles from the Scopus database (2007–2025) was analyzed using bibliometric methods and VOSviewer to map collaborative networks and key themes. Findings reveal a significant increase in PPP research, with India and China emerging as central hubs in collaborative networks. Key challenges identified include 'appropriate risk allocation and risk-sharing,' 'political support,' and 'the private sector’s financial strength,' with six challenges being unique to developing countries. The research is notably interdisciplinary and often focuses on global health and food security, rather than general infrastructure. This study provides an evidence-based map of the PPP research landscape, offering a systematic agenda for future inquiry and practical guidance for designing effective PPP strategies in Asia.