Defined as: "Covers the variability of demand (higher or lower than expected when the contract was signed) irrespective of the performance of the private partner. In other words, a shift of demand cannot be directly linked to an inadequate quality of the services provided by the partner. Instead, it should result from other factors, such as the business cycle, new market trends, a change in final users' preferences, or technological obsolescence. This is part of the usual 'economic risk' borne by private entities in the market economy." (Further discussion of demand risk is included in section 3.2.5 of the technical guidance.)