Private Participation in the Road Sector in Brazil : Recent Evolution and Next Steps
Today, Brazil has the second longest highway network under private concessions in the world. This paper analyzes Brazil's experience under the two first phases of the federal road concession program, and highlights some of the program's strengths and areas for further development. Despite the unfolding world financial and economic crisis, the potential for further private participation in the sector appears very good. This paper essentially argues that it may be time for Brazil to revamp its current models for private participation in the sector, which may soon reach their limit in terms of being able to meet efficiently the needs of a growing economy. In summary, Brazil could: 1) diversify its toll road model to allow for more innovative public-private partnership structures; 2) update its toll regulatory and contractual framework to overcome some of the design problems that have led to relatively inefficient tolling; 3) consolidate the institutional framework for road concessions to give a stabilized basis for further developments; 4) develop a policy framework adapted to the current Brazilian environment, taking into account the need to ensure harmonized levels of service and tolls across the country; and 5) adapt the sector financing framework to the rising capacity of private markets.
| Summary: | Today, Brazil has the second longest
highway network under private concessions in the world. This
paper analyzes Brazil's experience under the two first
phases of the federal road concession program, and
highlights some of the program's strengths and areas
for further development. Despite the unfolding world
financial and economic crisis, the potential for further
private participation in the sector appears very good. This
paper essentially argues that it may be time for Brazil to
revamp its current models for private participation in the
sector, which may soon reach their limit in terms of being
able to meet efficiently the needs of a growing economy. In
summary, Brazil could: 1) diversify its toll road model to
allow for more innovative public-private partnership
structures; 2) update its toll regulatory and contractual
framework to overcome some of the design problems that have
led to relatively inefficient tolling; 3) consolidate the
institutional framework for road concessions to give a
stabilized basis for further developments; 4) develop a
policy framework adapted to the current Brazilian
environment, taking into account the need to ensure
harmonized levels of service and tolls across the country;
and 5) adapt the sector financing framework to the rising
capacity of private markets. |
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