Public private partnerships in which the private sector takes on roles previously carried out by the public sector have been heavily promoted in the provision of infrastructure throughout the world, but especially in the UK, the USA and Canada. In Ideology Over Economics, economist John Loxley examines the expansion of P3s following the 2008 global financial crisis, when corporations responded to the crisis by lobbying governments for financial assistance and austerity governments responded by expanding financial resources for P3s. For many governments, the rationale for using P3s lies in the state manufactured fiscal crisis. The usual economic arguments underlie government largesse – lower cost, reduced risk and high-quality construction for public projects. In these arguments little has changed.

From his close examination of case studies of P3s in the UK, Canada and developing countries, John Loxley concludes that P3s do not achieve any of these promised goals and argues that the expansion of P3s owes more to ideology than to a rational evaluation of their economic and community building benefits.

Born in Sheffield, England, John Loxley came to Manitoba in 1974 to work for the NDP. He became deeply involved for many years with several Aborignal organizations. In 1977, Loxley became a Professor of Economics and the University of Manitoba and later became the head of the department. In 1991, Loxley formed Cho¡ces—A Caoalition For Social Justice—in response to the neo-conservative policy decisions being made by the Winnipeg City Council and the Government of Manitoba. Loxley received the Joe Zuken Citizen Activist Award in 200 for outstanding contribution to the social, political, and cultural life of Winnipeg.

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