PPP

PPP is an acronym that can refer to several distinct concepts across economics, public policy, information technology, and contemporary finance. The intended meaning depends on the field and context in which it is used.

Purchasing power parity (PPP) is an economic theory that exchange rates between currencies should adjust so that identical baskets of goods have the same price when expressed in a common currency. It is used to compare living standards across countries and to estimate long-run exchange rate levels. Limitations include non-tradable goods, quality differences, and market frictions that can cause actual rates to deviate from PPP in the short run.

Public-private partnership (PPP) refers to a long-term collaboration between government entities and private sector participants to fund, design, build, operate, and maintain infrastructure or public services. Projects are typically financed with private capital and repaid over time through user fees, availability payments, or other contractual arrangements. Advocates emphasize potential efficiency gains and risk transfer; critics point to higher complexity, cost, and concerns about transparency and accountability.

Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) is a data-link layer protocol used to establish a direct connection between two networking nodes over serial links, such as dial-up lines or dedicated connections. PPP negotiates configuration with the Link Control Protocol, supports authentication options like PAP and CHAP, and can carry multiple network layer protocols via multilink PPP. While largely supplanted by modern broadband and VPN technologies, PPP remains in use in legacy or specialized networks.

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was a U.S. government loan program created under the CARES Act in 2020 to help small businesses retain employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Loans could be forgiven if funds were used for payroll and qualifying expenses, subject to specific conditions. The program faced scrutiny over eligibility, administration, and fraud risks.