Public-Private Partnerships in the Provision of Public Goods and Services, According to the Categorization of Territorial Entities

Abstract

This article critically analyzes the implementation of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Colombia during the 2012–2021 period, aiming to determine how the categorization of territorial entities affects the viability and development of such projects. Utilizing a qualitative methodology and a descriptive research design, the current regulatory framework was examined—with special emphasis on Law 1508 of 2012—and statistics from the Unified Registry of PPPs (RUAPP) were contrasted with regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rates. The results evidence a marked structural asymmetry: higher-category or special-category territorial entities concentrate the vast majority of initiatives, whereas territories in the lowest tiers exhibit near-zero participation. This gap is attributed both to the technical complexity of project structuring and to the legal requirement of a generalized minimum investment amount—a condition that remains unattainable for entities facing severe budgetary constraints. It is concluded that although PPPs constitute an efficient instrument for the provision of infrastructure and public services, their current regulatory design deepens socioeconomic imbalances among regions. Consequently, a legislative reform that adjusts the minimum investment threshold proportionally to the categorization of territorial entities is imperative to guarantee the constitutional principle of equality and to foster equitable development throughout the national territory.