A Conceptualisation of the Emergence of Infrastructure Investment as a Separate Asset Class

Abstract

There is a growing debate over the investment disposition of infrastructure resources and this requires detailed investigation. This mounting debate reflects the growing attraction of infrastructure as a significant investment strategy, particularly among institutional investors such as pension funds and recently the interest of sovereign wealth funds for this asset class has also escalated. This paper argues from a conceptual perspective the emergence of infrastructure as a separate asset class. Its guaranteed sustainability as an asset class is driven by several factors including its resilient characteristics against downturn economic situations and the increasing supply and demand imbalance, largely reflecting the increasing involvement of the private sector in infrastructure investment. DOI: 10.5901/ajis.2014.v3n1p213