'New departures' in infrastructure provision: an ongoing evolution away from physical assets to user needs

Thesis

Infrastructure—communications, energy, transport, waste, and water networks—is critical for economic activity and social well-being. Practitioners, politicians, and economists advocate high levels of investment in infrastructure under the rubric of 'planning for growth' (or the 'push' paradigm). This paradigm relies on complex public-private arrangements in the name of public interest.

These seemingly reasonable arrangements are, however, not delivering their promise. Evidence shows...

Expand abstract

Authors: Ansar, A

• Publication date: 2010
• DOI: 10.5287/ora-5476vvkq0
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: futures; real options; infrastructure; auctions; long-term contracts; site selection; bargaining power; sunk costs; over-the-counter (OTC) contracts; durable and immobile investments; monopoly; property asset managers; real estate developers; government regulation; location decision
• Subjects: Microeconomics; Economics; Industrial economics; Geography; Urban Studies