The Infrastructure Finance Challenge

The Infrastructure Finance Challenge

Author: Ingo Walter

Publisher: Open Book Publishers

Published: 2016-11-21

Total Pages: 130

ISBN-13: 1783742968

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Infrastructure and its effects on economic growth, social welfare, and sustainability receive a great deal of attention today. There is widespread agreement that infrastructure is a key dimension of global development and that its impact reaches deep into the broader economy with important and multifaceted implications for social progress. At the same time, infrastructure finance is among the most complex and challenging areas in the global financial architecture. Ingo Walter, Professor Emeritus of Finance, Corporate Governance and Ethics at the Stern School of Business, New York University, and his team of experts tackle the issue by focussing on key findings backed by serious theoretical and empirical research. The result is a set of viable guideposts for researchers, policy-makers, students and anybody interested in the varied challenges of the contemporary economy.


Sustainable Urban Transport Financing from the Sidewalk to the Subway

Sustainable Urban Transport Financing from the Sidewalk to the Subway

Author: Arturo Ardila-Gomez

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2015-12-31

Total Pages: 111

ISBN-13: 1464807574

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Urban transport systems are essential for economic development and improving citizens' quality of life. To establish high-quality and affordable transport systems, cities must ensure their financial sustainability to fund new investments in infrastructure while also funding maintenance and operation of existing facilities and services. However, many cities in developing countries are stuck in an "underfunding trap" for urban transport, in which large up-front investments are needed for new transport infrastructure that will improve the still small-scale, and perhaps, poor-quality systems, but revenue is insufficient to cover maintenance and operation expenses, let alone new investment projects. The urban transport financing gap in these cities is further widened by the implicit subsidies for the use of private cars, which represent a minority of trips but contribute huge costs in terms of congestion, sprawl, accidents, and pollution. Using an analytical framework based on the concept of "Who Benefits Pays," 24 types of financing instruments are assessed in terms of their social, economic and environmental impacts and their ability to fund urban transport capital investments, operational expenses, and maintenance. Urban transport financing needs to be based on an appropriate mix of complementary financing instruments. In particular for capital investments, a combination of grants †“from multiple levels of government†“ and loans together with investments through public private partnerships could finance large projects that benefit society. Moreover, the property tax emerges as a key financing instrument for capital, operation, and maintenance expenses. By choosing the most appropriate mix of financing instruments and focusing on wise investments, cities can design comprehensive financing for all types of urban transport projects, using multi-level innovative revenue sources that promote efficient pricing schemes, increase overall revenue, strengthen sustainable transport, and cover capital investments, operation, and maintenance for all parts of a public transport system, "from the sidewalk to the subway."


Economic Analysis and Infrastructure Investment

Economic Analysis and Infrastructure Investment

Author: Edward L. Glaeser

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2021-11-11

Total Pages: 479

ISBN-13: 022680058X

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"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"--


The Road to Renewal

The Road to Renewal

Author: R. Richard Geddes

Publisher: Government Institutes

Published: 2011

Total Pages: 205

ISBN-13: 0844743461

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"In The Road to Renewal: Private Investment in U.S. Transportation Infrastructure, R. Richard Geddes surveys the current state of the American transportation system and finds that, like the roads themselves, the existing policy approach is in desperate need of repair. Drawing on the basic economic principles behind supply, demand, competition, and incentives, Geddes argues that a shift toward increased use of public-private partnerships (PPPs)--contractual agreements between public agencies and private parties that allow private participation in the design, construction, operation, and delivery of transportation facilities--could significantly improve the quality of America's transportation infrastructure. By learning to see themselves as customers and investors--rather than mere users--of roads and highways, Americans should expect to receive a reasonable return on their investment: thorough, effective maintenance of America's transportation infrastructure. The Road to Renewal shows how incorporating increased private participation can halt the deterioration of America's transportation system and become the foundation for a safer, more efficient transportation future."--P. [4] of cover.


Urban Road Pricing: Public and Political Acceptability

Urban Road Pricing: Public and Political Acceptability

Author: Martin J. Whittles

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2017-11-22

Total Pages: 268

ISBN-13: 1351772775

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Title first published in 2003. As more and more cities consider introducing urban road pricing schemes, this book describes, compares and contrasts arguments for and against using this transport policy instrument. It investigates the acceptability of various forms of road pricing schemes by examining and contextualising actual schemes and hypothetical scenarios. The resulting analysis provides a sociological theory of acceptability, carefully grounded in arguments about road pricing, which demonstrates how professional discourses diverge from publicly acceptable arguments. It also suggests ways in which consensus can be reached between the various road pricing options.


Green Infrastructure Finance

Green Infrastructure Finance

Author: Aldo Baietti

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2012-04-18

Total Pages: 265

ISBN-13: 0821394894

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This report is a structured compendium of leading initiatives and activities put forward to accelerate private investment flows in green growth. It summarizes current investment challenges of green projects as well as proposed solutions, financing schemes and initiatives that have set the stage for scaling up green infrastructure investments.


Financing Infrastructure

Financing Infrastructure

Author: Richard M. Bird

Publisher: McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP

Published: 2017-12-04

Total Pages: 374

ISBN-13: 0773552456

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Politicians and citizens universally agree that Canada’s urban infrastructure urgently needs work. Roads and bridges are overdue for repair, aging water systems should be replaced, sewage must be adequately treated, urban transit needs to be updated and extended, and it is necessary that public housing as well as schools, health centres, and government offices are brought up to current standards. But few cities have room to raise additional revenue, and the federal and provincial governments to which they turn for financial support are already in deficit, so who is going to pay for all of this? Bringing together perspectives and case studies from across Canada, the US, and Europe, Financing Infrastructure argues that the answer to the question “Who should pay?” should always be “users.” Headed by two of Canada’s foremost experts on municipal finance, this book provides a closer look at why charging user fees makes sense, how much users should pay, how to charge fees well and where present processes can be improved, and how to convince the politicians and the public of the importance of pricing infrastructure correctly. Across the disciplines of public policy, urban studies, and economics, almost no one is looking at the extent to which users should play a role in infrastructure planning. Financing Infrastructure contends that the users, not federal and provincial taxpayers, should start paying directly for their cities’ repairs and expansions. Contributors include Richard M. Bird (University of Toronto), Bernard Dafflon (University of Fribourg, Switzerland), Robert D. Ebel (Local Governance Innovation and Development), Harry Kitchen (Trent University), Jean-Philippe Meloche (Université de Montréal), Matti Siemiatycki (University of Toronto), Enid Slack (University of Toronto), Almos T. Tassonyi (University of Calgary), Lindsay M. Tedds (University of Victoria), François Vaillancourt (Université de Montréal), and Yameng Wang (World Bank).