Infrastructure Economics And Policy

In this comparison of infrastructure across countries and sectors, leading international academics and practitioners consider the latest approaches to infrastructure policy, implementation, and finance. The book presents evidence-based solutions and policy considerations, essential concepts and economic theories, and a current overview.

"Policy-makers often call for expanding public spending on infrastructure, which includes a broad range of investments from roads and bridges to digital networks that will expand access to high-speed broadband. Some point to near-term macro-economic benefits and job creation, others focus on long-term effects on productivity and economic growth. This volume explores the links between infrastructure spending and economic outcomes, as well as key economic issues in the funding and management of infrastructure projects. It draws together research studies that describe the short-run stimulus effects of infrastructure spending, develop new estimates of the stock of U.S. infrastructure capital, and explore the incentive aspects of public-private partnerships (PPPs). A salient issue is the treatment of risk in evaluating publicly-funded infrastructure projects and in connection with PPPs. The goal of the volume is to provide a reference for researchers seeking to expand research on infrastructure issues, and for policy-makers tasked with determining the appropriate level of infrastructure spending"--

This book looks closely at the findings, contributions and recommendations on key issues concerning the concomitant subjects of the large and complex physical infrastructural provision like the seaport and the airport. Chapter 1 examines the seaports, where ships, cargoes, cranes, forklifts and storage yards, warehouses, lorries, roads and rail lines abound. Cargo handling needs specialist knowledge of the understanding supply chain management (SCM), and of the global integrated logistics hub, i.e. global gateway. Chapter 2 highlights that the growth of developing countries depends on adequate physical infrastructure to support economic development. The Chapter examines the merits of viable seaport infrastructure investment, of requiring large capital expenditure, long payback period and of structuring a defensible risk management strategy to deal with uncertainties. Singapore’s Jurong Port is the case study. Chapter 3 is concerned with the growth of developing countries ., which depends very much on having adequate physical infrastructure to support economic development. As a strategic response, many physical infrastructure investments like seaports are being privatised and highly purpose built. Merits of the viable, long term, seaport investment, and of structuring a defensible risk management strategy are essential to deal with uncertainties. Singapore’s Jurong Port is the case study. Chapter 4 is concerned with the global outreach of the small island state of Singapore’s seaport operation, owing to its chronic and limited land and small population size. To overcome limiting growth prospects, it is essential to grow and sustain the global outreach of the Port of Singapore. Last but not least, Chapter 5 recognizes that for public physical infrastructure developments like Singapore’s global Changi Airport, public funding is also a form of investment that entails uncertainties, which need to be rigorously evaluated with financial modelling on the risks and returns. Even more so for crucial seaport expansion and for developing a larger strategic objective for the long-term, well-being of the nation. Changi Airport is a key pillar of strength to support the growth of Singapore’s trade-oriented market economy.

Public spending on infrastructure plays an important role in promoting economic growth and poverty alleviation. Empirical studies unequivocally show that under-investment in infrastructure limit economic growth. At the same time, numerous other studies have shown that investment in infrastructure can be a highly effective tool in fighting poverty reduction1. In that context, the financing of infrastructure has been a critical element of most economic growth and poverty reduction strategies in developing countries, since the start of this millennium. This book provides a comparative analysis of the aggregate and sectoral implications of higher spending on infrastructure in three very different Asian countries: China, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Particular attention is paid to the role of alternative financing mechanisms for increasing public infrastructure investment, namely distortionary and non-distortionary means of financing. The book will be of interest to scholars and policy-makers concerned with economic growth in developing countries.

The authors present a method for systemically comparing alternative institutional arrangements for the development of rural infrastructure.

Economic Role of Transport Infrastructure: Theory and Models helps evaluate the economic effects of transport infrastructure investments within a cost-benefit framework for maximum economic impact. The book analyzes the primary empirical approaches used to gauge the economic effects of transport infrastructures, providing in-depth discussions on data issues, input-output techniques, and econometric methodologies. Users will find empirical evidence organized from a transport mode point-of-view, inspiring researchers to conduct comparative analysis for various infrastructure projects. Topics cover infrastructure’s impact on economic growth using theoretical frameworks, including exogenous growth models, endogenous growth models, and new economic geography models. In addition, readers will also learn tips for conducting infrastructure impact studies and how to improve the effectiveness of infrastructural investments design. Explains and evaluates the economic effects of transport infrastructure investments, including direct and indirect, short and long run impact, and local and spillover outcomes Provides up-to-date coverage of quantitative techniques and empirical results for transportation and economic impact issues Explains the steps for conducting impact studies for proposed infrastructure projects Analyzes infrastructure’s role on economic growth through theoretical, methodological and empirical perspectives Features case studies describing real-world methods

In this volume, experts from Europe, North and South America and Asia examine the complexities of financing, installing, implementing and regulating public infrastructures. Employing a range of methodological approaches, including historical and empirical research, analytical models, theoretical analysis and sector and regional case studies, they consider the economics of infrastructure provisioning by government, through private-public partnerships and privatisation arrangements. After first treating general investment, growth and policy issues, they then offer sector-specific analyses of transportation, energy, telecommunications and water infrastructures.

This paper investigates the emerging global landscape for public-private co-investments in infrastructure. The creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and other so-called “infrastructure investment platforms” are an attempt to tap into the pool of both public and private long-term savings in order to channel the latter into much needed infrastructure projects. This paper puts these new initiatives into perspective by critically reviewing the literature and experience with public private partnerships in infrastructure. It concludes by identifying the main challenges policy makers and other actors will need to confront going forward and to turn infrastructure into an asset class of its own.