Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are mostly presented as a means to introduce efficient procurement methods and better value for money to taxpayers. However, the complexity of the PPP mechanism, their lack of transparency, accounting rules and implicit liabilities make it often impossible to perceive the amount of public expenditure involved and the long-run impact on taxpayers, providing room for fiscal illusion, i.e., the illusion that PPPs are much less expensive than traditional public investments. This psaper, thanks to a systematic review of the literature on the EU countries experience, tries to unveil the sources of this illusion by looking at the reasons behind the PPPs’ choice, their real costs, and the sources of fiscal risks. The literature suggests that PPPs are more costly than public funding, especially when contingent liabilities are not taken into account, and are employed as mechanisms to circumvent budgetary restrictions and to spend off-balance. The paper concludes that the public sector should share more risks with private sectors by reducing the amount of guarantees, and should prevent governments from operating through a sleight of hand that deflects attention away from off-balance financing, by applying a neutral fiscal recording system.

This research aims to do the assessing the feasibility of the Public-Private Partnership project in investing in the construction of the Palu-Parigi By-pass road through a PPP financing scheme, thereby providing opportunities for the private sector to participate in the provision of special road infrastructure. In this context, experimental criteria for determining Value for Money (VFM) are applied using the PPP model, to evaluate projects. The main objective also emphasizes the provision of greater VFM Goods through private financing, through conventional methods that are economical, efficient and effective. Furthermore, financial performance measurement reports apply several methods, including Payback Period (PP), Net Present Value (NPV), and Internal Rate of Return (IRR) which determine the feasibility and time required for returns on invested capital. The previous Economic Feasibility Study of the Palu-Parigi By-pass Road Construction project also showed an EIRR value of 20.1% in 2014, illustrating the economic development of this work. In connection with the limitations currently faced by the Regional Budget Agency of Central Sulawesi Province, the next PPP scheme is recommended for road construction by prioritizing infrastructure completion after the 28 September 2018 earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic. The DBFMT (Design–Build–Finance–Maintenance–Transfer) model was also applied to the project, with GCA responsible for design, construction, financing, periodic maintenance and transfer at the end of the collaboration agreement.

Private states (also referred to as “micronations”) are unique cultural and creative products that involve political, economic, and cultural factors tied to individuals, groups, and specific social contexts. From ancient settlers establishing overseas colonies to modern digital virtual state projects, the forms and operational methods of private states have continuously evolved and innovated. The successful marketing of private states is often accompanied by the creation of narrative elements, such as their histories, constitutions, national flags, and coats of arms, constructing a grand narrative that attracts consumers, in line with the theory of monogatari consumption. As symbolic cultural products, these states not only possess material attributes but, more importantly, also embody cultural experiences and emotional value. Therefore, the significance of studying private states lies in elucidating how they present and operate their unique worldviews and cultural atmospheres to attract participation.