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Profiting from public value? The case of Social Impact Bonds

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Draft paper prepared for Creating Public Value Conference, University of Minnesota, Sept 20-22, 2012
Author: 
Warner, Mildred
Format: 
Report
Publication Date: 
20 Sep 2012
AVAILABILITY

Abstract:

Social Impact Bonds are a new form of cross-sectoral collaboration which attracts private financial investment to social programs by offering to pay a market rate of return should the intervention meet its predefined targets. SIBs monetize the benefits of social interventions and tie pay to performance. Ideally they transfer risk from the public sector to private sector investors and attract new funding to social interventions. Drawing from theory regarding contracting, marketization, performance evaluation and taking lessons from experience with public private partnerships in physical  infrastructure, this paper explores the public values at stake in the SIB innovation.  Using a focus on actors, processes and outcomes, the paper outlines the opportunities and concerns SIBs present for public administration scholars concerned with public value creation and preservation.

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