The main aim of this paper is to assess whether investment in infrastructure and broader institutional infrastructure reforms have been reflected in better infrastructure performance indicators across transition economies. Our econometric analysis shows that at the enterprise level the reduction of utility arrears is significantly associated to lower costs in terms of interruption of power and ...

Investment in infrastructure is recognized as a key enabler of economic prosperity, but it is also important for addressing social and environmental challenges, including climate change mitigation and addressing fuel poverty. The UK Government Strategy Investing in Britain’s Future argues that significant investment in “resilient, cost effective and sustainable energy supplies” is needed to mee...

Residential broadband options such as cable and digital subscriber lines are growing in popularity. However, evidence suggests that urban areas are receiving the majority of infrastructure investment, thereby leaving many rural locations with few options for broadband access. With access to telecommunication infrastructure becoming an increasingly important component to local economic developme...

In this note, I will examine policy that might encourage greater public infrastructure investment. Much of the discussion will center around H.R. 1452, a bill that was introduced to the House of Representatives in 1999. This bill provided a novel financing method, the primary purpose of which was to provide interest-free loans to state and local governments that would use the money to improve i...

Competition has become a preferred means to promote investment in digital infrastructure. The U.S. Telecom Act, the WTO Reference Paper and EC Directives each adopt policies that encourage facilities-based entry into telecommunications markets to expand service coverage and to accelerate deployment of advanced technologies. Yet despite its popularity, empirical evidence that this policy stimula...