Public Infrastructure Investment Research Articles

Land, investment and production in agrarian transformation in Zimbabwe

The study reviews the Fast Track Land Reform Programme in Zimbabwe and investigates the extent to which it provided incentives for investment and technology adoption to increase labor productivity in the agricultural sector. It is informed by an agrarian transformation theoretical framework that is underpinned by Engel’s Law and the Timmer-Mellor development trajectory. Use is made of a desk study of relevant literature and empirical data drawn from various organizations that have been tracking the progress of the land reform programme. Findings from the study show that the Fast Track Land Reform Programme delivered well on equity and social justice but much less on land use efficiency and environmental conservation as technology adoption and investment by reform beneficiaries remained low. Low public investments in infrastructure and services constrained trade and agrarian transformation. Land reform that integrates technology adoption and investments is needed and scope exists towards this through proper attention to land governance, land tenure and macroeconomic policies in general. Good land governance has a positive impact on public and private investment and therefore technology adoption, the key ingredient for increased labor productivity in the agricultural sector.

Cross-National Focus Group Response to Autonomous Vehicles

The development of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is advancing quickly in some enclaves around the world. Consequently, AVs exist in the public consciousness, featuring regularly in mainstream media. As the form and function of AVs emerge, the attitudes of potential users become more important. The extent to which the public trusts AV technology and anticipates benefits, will drive consumer willingness to use AVs. Broadly, public attitudes will determine whether AVs can attract public investment in infrastructure and become a feature of the future transport mix or fail to realize the potential their developers assert. As part of UK Autodrive, a program trialing the introduction of AVs in the United Kingdom, researchers conducted focus groups in five UK cities, and a comparison focus group in San Francisco (December 2017 to September 2018) using representative samples (total n = 137). Focus group facilitators guided discussions in three areas considered central to usage decisions: trust in the technology, ownership models, and community benefit. This paper describes findings from a quasi-quantitative study supported with qualitative insights. This research provides three key takeaways centering on trust in the technology and in delivering benefit. First, some participants gain trust through experience and others through evidence. Second, participants had difficulty discriminating between AV developers, indicating a need for industry cooperation. Third, partnerships were found to demonstrate trust, highlighting the need for more and deeper partnerships moving forward. Generally, participants had positive attitudes toward AVs and expect AVs to provide benefits. However, these attitudes and expectations could change as AV development progresses.

The Econometric Approach of the Impact of Public Investment in the Road-Infrastructure in the Economic Growth of Kosovo

Abstract Economic growth and public investments are considered the most challenging problems faced by most countries around the world, including Kosovo. Various assumptions have been made that better and higher-quality transport is essential for the country’s economic development. This study aims to analyze the relationship and the impact of public investments in road infrastructure on Kosovo’s economic growth taking into analysis also other macroeconomics aggregates such as Consumption, Investment, Exports, and Imports. Two important aspects have been addressed within the extensive literature review, namely theoretical analysis of different studies elaborating on elements regarding infrastructure in general, such as social and economic infrastructure, and road infrastructure in particular. To analyze the impact of public investments in road infrastructure and other macroeconomics aggregates over Kosovo’s economic growth, the econometric multiple regression model Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), the Pearson Correlation, and the Test for heteroskedasticity have been applied. The data used is secondary data obtain from the World Bank Indicators, Kosovo Agency of Statistics, and the Official Gazette of the Republic of Kosovo. All these models are tested with the STATA software program. Based on regression analysis, we can conclude that public investments in road infrastructure for Kosovo’s economic growth are non-significant as their effect is manifested in the long run, but all the other independent variables from the OLS model are significant and impact the GDP growth of Kosovo. The study comes with some other conclusions, suggestions and opens paths for future researchers.

The Effect of Public Infrastructure on Cost Structure and Performance of Chinese Provinces*

This paper estimates a translog cost function for 29 Chinese provinces between 1979 and 2018. The results imply that investment in public infrastructure reduces costs in all provinces. Comparing the estimated rate of return to infrastructure with the rate of return to private capital, our results indicate underinvestment for the initial period after the economic reforms; however, after 2010 our results show overinvestment in infrastructure. Infrastructure capital is a substitute input to labor, private capital and intermediate inputs. Finally, public infrastructure growth contributes positively to labor and total factor productivity growth, but the effect is small. The growth of private capital and intermediate inputs are the most important factors that boost the growth of labor productivity.

Systematic review of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) implementation in the African region.

BackgroundThe WHO African region frequently experiences outbreaks and epidemics of infectious diseases often exacerbated by weak health systems and infrastructure, late detection, and ineffective outbreak response. To address this, the WHO Regional Office for Africa developed and began implementing the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response strategy in 1998.ObjectivesThis systematic review aims to document the identified successes and challenges surrounding the implementation of IDSR in the region available in published literature to highlight areas for prioritization, further research, and to inform further strengthening of IDSR implementation.MethodsA systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published in English and French from 1 July 2012 to 13 November 2019 was conducted using PubMed and Web of Science. Included articles focused on the WHO African region and discussed the use of IDSR strategies and implementation, assessment of IDSR strategies, or surveillance of diseases covered in the IDSR framework. Data were analyzed descriptively using Microsoft Excel and Tableau Desktop 2019.ResultsThe number of peer-reviewed articles discussing IDSR remained low, with 47 included articles focused on 17 countries and regional level systems. Most commonly discussed topics were data reporting (n = 39) and challenges with IDSR implementation (n = 38). Barriers to effective implementation were identified across all IDSR core and support functions assessed in this review: priority disease detection; data reporting, management, and analysis; information dissemination; laboratory functionality; and staff training. Successful implementation was noted where existing surveillance systems and infrastructure were utilized and streamlined with efforts to increase access to healthcare.Conclusions and implications of findingsThese findings highlighted areas where IDSR is performing well and where implementation remains weak. While challenges related to IDSR implementation since the first edition of the technical guidelines were released are not novel, adequately addressing them requires sustained investments in stronger national public health capabilities, infrastructure, and surveillance processes.

How productive is public investment? Evidence from formal and informal production in India

We use firm-level data on formal and informal production in India to examine the sectoral consequences of government investment in public infrastructure. Our results indicate that proximity to highway infrastructure, time since project completion, and firm size are important determinants of the sectoral effects of infrastructure on firm productivity. First, we show that while public capital is associated with a positive and significant output elasticity for formal sector firms, it has no systematic effect on informal firms. Next, using a major highway construction project in India, we show that proximity to a newly completed highway and the time since project completion are productivity-enhancing for formal firms, with these benefits distributed evenly across firm size in that sector. By contrast, similar benefits do not accrue to informal firms. Specifically, the presence of large firms in areas close to a newly completed highway crowds out the output of small informal firms, thereby mitigating the overall benefits of public investment for the informal sector.

The role of open data in evidencing and limiting political interference in public input distribution in Guatemala

Input subsidies are a popular redistributive policy measure in many developing countries to support climate change adaptation through yield stabilization and food security in a small-farm context. Nevertheless, the evidence of the effectiveness of the programs is mixed. One main point of critique is that these programs are vulnerable to political interference leading to misuse. In this paper we assess if targeted investments in public data and information infrastructure can reduce entry points for political interference. We present a case study on Guatemala in which fertilizer distribution was accompanied by an effort of open data provision and transparency under the Zero Hunger Pact. For this case study, we used a mixed-method approach. We show that political interference was a significant determinant of fertilizer distribution in the 2012–2015 election period and to analyze the role that information and data played with this regard. The paper closes by proposing four action points that could help to harvest the potential of information, data, and digital tools to reduce political interference into public redistributive decision-making.

The measles outbreak in Israel in 2018-19: lessons for COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT During 2018–2019 Israel saw some 4300 measles cases in a country-wide epidemic. Increased measles incidence rates and considerable disease burden have been observed in under-vaccinated communities, predominantly Jewish ultraorthodox. The measles epidemic, despite proper public health handling, revealed susceptible population subgroups as well as gaps and lacking resources in the Israeli public health systems. In the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, as of December 2020, the number of COVID-19 cases reported nationally was over 300,000 with approximately 3000 fatalities. Notably, minority groups such as the ultraorthodox Jewish community and the Arab community in Israel has been profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe it is still possible to implement the key lessons from the measles outbreak in Israel that could aid in the COVID-19 response in Israel and elsewhere. These conceptions should include a social-based approach, investment in public health human resources and infrastructure, tackling root causes of inequalities, emphasis on trust and solidarity, proactive communication, need for political will, and proper use of epidemiological data as a basis for decision-making. In parallel to proper use of COVID-19 vaccines, when available, a ‘social vaccine’ is crucial as well as preparedness and response according to public health principles.

Funding and Financing to Sustain Public Infrastructure: Why Choices Matter

Investment in public infrastructure, including the provision of essential services through capital-intensive networks, is critical to supporting economic development and, more so, the quality of places and lives. The sustainability of public utilities and other infrastructure systems depends on spending to an optimal compliant service level and raising revenues that fully cover the cost of service. Sustaining infrastructure relies on both funding and financing mechanisms, which should not be confused. This primer provides a framework for understanding the difference between funding and financing and why policy choices for these functions matter. Funding choices affect the distribution of burdens on service consumers; financing choices affect the cost of capital for service providers. These implications tend to receive less attention than behavioral incentives for economic efficiency. The portfolio of alternative funding and financing methods and instruments is described along with how they relate to structural and governance models for service delivery. The report provides key statistics and trends across U.S. infrastructure sectors, with highlights for Michigan. To varying degrees by infrastructure sector, the analysis detects discernable shifts in fiscal federalism and policy emphasis from governmental funding to financing, from federal to state and local funding, from tax-based to fee-based funding, and from public to private capital financing, with implications for impacts and outcomes. Investment gaps and methods for closing them are considered. By improving understanding, this primer aims to promote inclusive and constructive stakeholder engagement around equity in the realization of sustainable public infrastructure.

The scale and effect of public investments in flood control infrastructure in Serbia from 2009 to 2021

Flood control structures play an important role in saving lives and property during floods, especially due to climate change issues. The construction, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of hydraulic structures are compliant with their maintenance and are performed periodically and preventively in order to achieve their required functional safety. However, over the years, investments in flood protection, i.e. the reduction of possible damage caused by the harmful effects of water, mostly implied investments in embankments. Investments in high dams are insufficient in terms of their importance, structure complexity, and failure risk.

COVID-19 epidemiology in Canada from January to December 2020: the pre-vaccine era

This paper summarizes COVID-19 disease epidemiology in Canada in the pre-vaccine era—from January through to December 2020. Canadian case numbers, risk factors, disease presentations (including severe and critical disease), and outcomes are described. Differences between provinces and territories in geography, population size and density, health demographics, and pandemic impact are highlighted. Key concepts in public health response and mitigation are reviewed, including masking, physical distancing, hand washing, and the promotion of outdoor interactions. Adequate investment in public health infrastructure is stressed, and regional differences in screening and testing strategies are highlighted. The spread of COVID-19 in Canadian workplaces, long-term care homes, and schools is described and lessons learned emphasized. The impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations in Canada—including Indigenous Peoples, ethnic minorities and newcomers, people who use drugs, people who are homeless, people who are incarcerated, and people with disabilities—is described. Sex and gender disparities are also highlighted. Author recommendations include strategies to reduce transmission (such as test–trace–isolate), the establishment of nationally standardized definitions and public reporting, the protection of high risk and vulnerable populations, and the development of a national strategy on vaccine allocation.

The Direct Employment Impact of Public Investment

We evaluate the direct employment effect of the public investment in key infrastructure—electricity, roads, schools and hospitals, and water and sanitation. Using rich firm-level panel data from 41 countries over 19 years, we estimate that US$1 million of public spending in infrastructure create 3–7 jobs in advanced economies, 10–17 jobs in emerging market economies, and 16–30 jobs in low-income developing countries. As a comparison, US$1 million public spending on R&D yields 5–11 jobs in R&D in OECD countries. Green investment and investment with a larger R&D component deliver higher employment effect. Overall, we estimate that one percent of global GDP in public investment can create more than seven million jobs worldwide through its direct employment effects alone.

The Macroeconomic Impact of Infrastructure Investment: A Review of Channels

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.

BTI - 2022 Togo Country Report: Togo's Political and Socio-Economic Development, 2019-2020 (Enhanced Author's Version)

The Gnassingbe clan has ruled the country since 1967. The demand for political alternance, constituted the major contentious issue between the government and the challengers of the Gnassingbe regime throughout the survey period. The first local elections since more than 30 years took finally place on 30 June 2019 and resulted in the victory of the ruling party. Shortly afterwards, in February 2020, the President won also the disputed presidential elections and thus consolidated his power, assisted by the loyal army and security services. The outbreak of the Corona epidemic in Togo in April 2020 and the subsequent economic recession may have contributed to limit popular protest against the Gnassingbe regime. The human rights record of the government has improved but remains poor. Despite undeniable improvements to the framework and appearance of the regime's key institutions during the review period, democracy remains far from complete. However, the international community, notably Togo’s African peers, the AU and ECOWAS, followed a ‘laissez-faire’ approach in the interests of regional stability and their national interests in dealing with Togo. Economic growth remained stable at about 5% per annum (before Corona). Public investment in infrastructure and increases in agricultural productivity, notably of export crops, had been the key drivers of economic growth. However, growth remains vulnerable to external shocks and the climate and has not been inclusive. Moreover, it was overshadowed by increasing inter-personal and regional inequality as well as an increase in extreme poverty. Money-laundering, illegal money transfers and trafficking grew alarmingly. Nevertheless, the business climate improved considerably.

The role of foreign investment in U.S. infrastructure: opportunities and challenges ahead

The U.S. infrastructure has been issued a grade of D+ from the American Society of Civil Engineers because of the low funding for new construction, maintenance, and repair. It is now reaching the end of its useful life and cost estimates have reached as high as $3.6-trillion. The public infrastructure investment is at 2.4% of GDP, which is half of what it was 50-years ago. The U.S. has explored new ways to finance its infrastructure because of funding uncertainty. Investments such as, pensions, foreign investments, and sovereign wealth funds, manage trillions in assets and are forecasted to grow. This paper presents an overview in infrastructure funding and identifies possible approaches in addressing long-term financial needs with foreign capital partnership.

Cohesion in the Local Context: Reconciling the Territorial, Economic and Social Dimensions

This brief editorial introduces a set of articles dealing with territorial challenges in Europe. The EU and the member states have put attention to a silent, but growing issue of inequality: The spatial disparities are in several member states considered able to provide wider political tensions and challenges. Consequently, the EU has launched a research theme in its framework programme Horizon 2020 to cope with such matter. Most of the papers in this issue have their origin in the Horizon COHSMO project “Inequality, Urbanization and Territorial Cohesion. Developing the European Social Model of Economic Growth and Democratic Capacity.” While social or economic inequalities are recognized as a social problem, spatial disparities are forgotten or ignored. However, territorial inequalities do boost social and economic differences and add to growing tensions and contradictions in many cases. Coping with such challenges is a difficult matter; most European countries have had programmes aiming at rebalancing regional inequalities for many years. Despite major investments in public services, infrastructure, education and culture, as well as targeted support for private investors, businesses raising employment opportunities and so on. However, the success in terms of growing population and employment has been limited. Instead, endogenous structures and relations receive more attention; in particularly local capacity to generate solutions and means to promote economic and social development. This ability strongly links to the concept of collective efficacy, i.e., a joint understanding and capability to organize and execute actions of mutual benefit.

Impact of Digitalisation on Economic Growth, Productivity and Employment

Abstract Since the industrial revolution, technological innovations have enabled rise in productivity, employment, standard of living and the total population several times. In the last 15 years productivity growth has slowed-down in the most of large economies, probably due to slow diffusion of advanced IT solutions, but also due to inadequate statistical measurement of the value of IT services and slow progress in complementary and other technologies. The acceleration of productivity growth in the future is possible to foster through larger public investment in infrastructure and fundamental research, tax incentives and subsidies attached to innovations in the private sector, as well as through promotion of entrepreneurship and the reform of education system. The development and diffusion of digitalisation and other technologies is expected to trigger a slight acceleration in productivity, while explosive growth in productivity, as predicted by some theoreticians, is not likely to happen. The net effect of digitalisation on employment will be probably negative, but it is uncertain how much will be offset by a rise in availability of goods and services and creation of new types of goods and services. Employment will depend on the speed of adjustment of education system to technological changes and labour market requirements, as well as on the possibilities for vocational education and change in qualifications. An important reserve, which may reduce a drop in employment and enhance the welfare of citizens, lies in additional reduction of the working hours. In the long run, it is expected that the world population growth is to slowdown and then become negative, which will lead to a decrease in the labour force. In that case, full employment will be attained even with the decline in the number of jobs. In case of long-term massive unemployment, there is also an option for introduction of universal basic income or other type of social benefits, in order to prevent a significant rise in economic inequality.

Impact of Public and Private Infrastructure Investment on Economic Growth: Evidence from India

Literature presents contradictory views regarding the impact of public and private investment on the economic growth of a country. India being a developing country, where the major share of investment is by public sector, the question which props up is what among public and private investment is contributing more towards the economic growth of the country. In this framework, the gross domestic product (GDP) can be fairly explained as a function of public infrastructure investment and private infrastructure investment. Johansen’s co-integration was used to test the long-run relationship between the variables over the period from 1961–1962 to 2016–2017. A vector error correction model (VECM) along with an impulse response function and variance decomposition analysis was done to measure the impact of public infrastructure investment and private infrastructure investment on the GDP. Based on the empirical evidence discussed earlier, it was evident that both public and private infrastructure investments have a significant impact on the economic growth of the nation. Findings which came up in this study correlate to majority findings of past literature that, when compared with public investment, it is private investment which is capable of giving a better impetus to economic growth.

TRADITIONAL PROCUREMENT Vs PUBLIC, PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MODEL – A Solution Based Approach for Indian Sub Continent

Infrastructure development creates enough economic activities and development that have direct impact on socio economic development and overall national development. However, the role of traditional procurement / government spending on this sector has been under tremendous stress due to limited availability of resources. Public and private model and 100% private investments have been in vogue since couple of decades. The empirical government data projects a negligible or poor contribution of private sector, for various reasons though. The infrastructure gaps are still large and bridging those gaps will require tackling several problems, in terms of additional. This paper evaluates the current investment scenario and provide for radical changes in thought process and approach towards improving private participation in nation infrastructure building. One such approach is creating a national stock exchange for all private and public infrastructure investments and tagging this segment with organised industry profile. A CaaS (Construction As A Service) concept is being proposed to effectively utilise the limited resources and to avoid overlapping wasteful expenditures through pooling and shared services and on demand model. While it is not imperative to impress upon the establishment and public alike about the importance of private participation in infrastructure investments, it is order of the day to convince them about the real return on investments that they would commit. Similarly, bringing in public at large to participate in investing in infrastructure, a radical change will happen for good and the nation progress.

Subcentres as Destinations: Job Decentralization, Polycentricity, and the Sustainability of Commuting Patterns in Canadian Metropolitan Areas, 1996–2016

Adopting more sustainable modes of transportation and shorter daily commutes remains a fundamental challenge in the struggle for the sustainable transition of cities. While past studies on the sustainability of commuting behaviours partly focused on the place of residence and how the characteristics of commuters or residential neighbourhoods impact sustainable travel, other studies looked at the place of employment to analyze these dynamics. In this study, we investigate the extent to which the recent phase of the rise of peripheral employment has promoted more sustainable travel behaviour, based on the hypothesis that polycentricity has recently favoured a better job–housing balance and co-location. We develop a general typology of employment centres, using Census microdata at fine spatial scale over the 1996–2016 period to observe commuting modes and distances by subcentre types for six major Canadian cities. Our results show that despite recent developments in planning practices—transit-oriented development, transport infrastructure, and changing travel behaviour, the emergence of peripheral subcentres promoted less sustainable commuting patterns in most Canadian metropolitan areas over the period. However, we find sustainable commuting emerging in subcentres where large public transport infrastructure investments have been made, such as in the case of Vancouver’s Millennium and Canada lines. Our study also shows that central business districts (CBDs) and downtown subcentres are becoming relatively more sustainable over the period, which confirms the positive effect of the back-to-the-city movement and changing behaviour toward active transportation in these locations.