Maxim Lubyanoi: "It is necessary to legitimize the presence of business in the social sphere."

      On June 5, 2026, at 12:10, the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia presented the results of the state-private partnership development ranking for 2025. Nizhny Novgorod region ranked among the top five leading regions demonstrating the best results in PPP development. On this topic, within the framework of the special project "Expert Club" and NIA "Nizhny Novgorod," Maxim Lubyanoi, director of the Research Institute of Social Management Problems and candidate of philosophical sciences, expressed his views.

      "The Nizhny Novgorod region has entered the top 5 regions for PPP development. 83% of private investments, 341 new agreements, 4600 active contracts — these figures are impressive. However, as a political scientist and sociologist, I look at this story from a different angle: what do the people, for whom water supply systems, roads, and schools are supposedly being built, think about all this?

      The problem is that the mass consciousness does not operate with the category of 'public-private partnership.' For a resident of the region, this is too abstract. They see that hot water is finally no longer being turned off in their village, or that a new clinic opened faster than promised. Or, conversely, they see nothing at all. And here arises the main risk that is not captured by economic ratings: the gap between investment statistics and the real quality of life. Therefore, in my opinion, the most vulnerable point in today's PPP model is the lack of 'sociological binding' of projects. A region can sign hundreds of agreements, but if residents do not feel improvements, all of this turns into reporting for the ministry. Moreover, in conditions where the population traditionally views the merging of power and business with suspicion, any opaque project risks provoking distrust, or even protest. Transparency for people is not a bank audit, but a simple and clear answer: 'on which street will asphalt be laid with private money and why has my garbage collection fee not increased because of this?'

      Sanctions and the exit of Western investors have made domestic private entities the main partners of the state. But this also requires a new ethics of communication from the authorities. It is not enough to simply attract money — it is necessary to legitimize the very presence of business in the social sphere. And for this, strangely enough, not only concession agreements are needed, but also regular public opinion surveys, public councils for large projects, and clear navigation for citizens: 'here works an investor, these are temporary inconveniences, the benefit for you will be such and such.'

      Which areas are the most promising from this point of view? Those where the social demand is maximally acute and visible. These are not abstract investments in housing and communal services, but specific outpatient clinics in small towns, school extensions to eliminate the second shift, and finally, the improvement of parks and embankments. Such projects provide quick, tangible results and the highest political dividends.

      The Nizhny Novgorod region has indeed set a high bar. But for this bar not to remain an economic fixation, but to turn into a social reality, a second, humanitarian dimension of PPP is necessary. After all, the investment rating is for officials. For a person, it is important that the water from the tap is clean and that they do not have to travel two hours to get to the clinic," believes Maxim Lubyanoi.

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