Abstract:

This paper examines institutional factors influencing the implementation of public investments by local government units in Poland using public-private partnerships (PPP). The study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach supported by statistical analysis and grounded in the theoretical framework of new institutional economics (North, 1990; Williamson, 1985, 2000). The empirical analysis is based on data from the Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy covering the period 2009-2025.

The findings indicate that although the PPP market in Poland has been gradually developing since 2009, its scale remains limited and structurally constrained. Between 2009 and 2025, a total of 212 PPP contracts were concluded, while 703 PPP proceedings were initiated. The effectiveness of PPP procedures – measured as the ratio of contracts to proceedings – increased from 23% in 2009-2017 to 45% in 2017-2025, representing a rise of 22 percentage points.

Despite this improvement in procedural efficiency, the overall level of PPP investment remains low compared to more developed European countries. The paper contributes to the literature by proposing a conceptual model of PPP development and introducing an Institutional Effectiveness Indicator (IEI), enabling longitudinal assessment of PPP performance and institutional change. The IEI is used as a proxy measure of procedural efficiency in PPP implementation, rather than a direct measure of institutional capacity. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of the institutional constraints affecting PPP development in emerging economies.