The Macroeconomic Impact of Infrastructure Investment: A Review of Channels

Abstract

This paper provides a critical review of the literature on the macroeconomic effects of public infrastructure investment associated with the main underlying transmission channels. Typically, this type of stimulus fosters economic activity in the medium-to-long run because the public capital stock needs time to build up and to exert its effects. However, under the current circumstances – such as considerable economic slack, policy rates constrained at zero and heightened uncertainty – the stimulus can be expansionary even at shorter horizons, i.e. from one to three years. Given the large infrastructure gaps in most emerging and advanced economies, infrastructure investment could have high returns in terms of individuals’ welfare and productivity growth. Strengthening health infrastructures, supporting maintenance investment, and coordinating infrastructure stimuli across countries emerge as particularly appropriate policies today.