An economic analysis of a public-private-community partnership: the case of solid waste management in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

This paper assesses the economic efficiency of a public-private community partnership in urban Solid Waste Management (SWM) in Dhaka City. This paper, based on a successful pilot program at the micro level in a Dhaka City suburb, builds a macro model for the city and provides an economic analysis of its social desirability. This research examines the highly contentious question of whether a partnership approach is desirable from the resource allocation point of view to resolve SWM crises in low-income cities like Dhaka. The analysis reveals conditions under which the economic benefits of the partnership model exceed its costs.