What’s Next for a National Infrastructure Policy: An Encore or a Requiem?

2021 ◽  
pp. 1087724X2110146
Author(s):  
Richard G. Little
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Infrastructure Systems ◽  
Infrastructure Policy ◽  
Policy Objectives ◽  
The Many ◽  
National Infrastructure ◽  
Roll Out

In an essay almost 30 years ago, Professor Dick Netzer of NYU asked the question “Do We Really Need a National Infrastructure Policy?” and came to the conclusion that we did not. As the Biden Administration prepares to roll out a multi-trillion dollar infrastructure package, the nation is faced with numerous questions regarding the infrastructure systems necessary to support continued economic growth and environmental sustainability. The purpose of this essay is to look to recent history for guidance for how to proceed by revisiting the underlying premises of the Netzer essay and reconsider whether a National Infrastructure Policy is needed. Because linking infrastructure to broader public policy objectives could both unite the nation and position it to address the many challenges that the 21st century will present, I believe the idea of a National Infrastructure Policy definitely deserves a second look.

Contours of a National Infrastructure Policy for the New Millennium

2021 ◽  
pp. 1087724X2110166
Author(s):  
John C. Morris ◽  
Ryan D. Williamson ◽  
A. Stanley Meiburg
Keyword(s):  
21St Century ◽  
National Policy ◽  
National Government ◽  
The State ◽  
The Core ◽  
Infrastructure Policy ◽  
Wastewater Infrastructure ◽  
The Many ◽  
National Infrastructure ◽  
New Millennium

As calls for renewed efforts to address the state of the nation’s infrastructure grow across both partisan and ideological lines, they raise pointed questions regarding the nature of such efforts. For example, how do we pay for needed infrastructure? How do we set priorities among the many and varied needs across the nation? Most critically, should the national government play the central role in such an effort or is this task more appropriately left to the states? With Netzer’s article in mind, we examine the core factors that a national infrastructure policy in the 21st century should consider. We illustrate these factors through the use of two exemplar cases: traditional wastewater infrastructure, and the infrastructure required to conduct free, safe, and fair elections. Contrary to Netzer, we contend that there are many advantages to employing a national policy in these areas.

scholarly journals Competitividad y medio ambiente en la región centro de México

2020 ◽  
pp. 40-59
Author(s):  
Marco Antonio Rocha Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Social Indicators ◽  
Standard Of Living ◽  
Regional Competitiveness ◽  
Reference Framework ◽  
Development Policies ◽  
Regional Development Policies

This work presents an analysis of the recent development of the federation entities that make up the central region of Mexico, considering indicators of urban and regional competitiveness, social indicators and environmental sustainability. The results state that economic growth in cities in the region has as a counterpart of greater competitiveness and standard of living, a negative impact on the local and regional urban environment. In this context, a reference framework for the development of regional development policies is proposed with a metropolitan and Megalopolitan perspective approach to reorient public policy strategies based on the articulation between economy, society and the environment.

Infrastructure: National Roles Without National Policy

2021 ◽  
pp. 1087724X2110166
Author(s):  
Martin Wachs
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
National Level ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Public Expenditures ◽  
Policy Effectiveness ◽  
Infrastructure Policy ◽  
National Infrastructure

In 1992 Professor Dick Netzer posed the question “Do We Really Need a National Infrastructure Policy?” but a national infrastructure policy really is a fanciful notion. America has never had a national infrastructure policy, there is no consensus as to what constitutes “infrastructure,” and little to agreement on public policy at the national level. Although we may agree that public expenditures to build and maintain infrastructure should be effective, efficient, and equitable, however hard we try and however sincere our efforts, we never agree on the meanings of terms like infrastructure, policy, effectiveness, efficiency, or equity. The futility of striving toward “a” national or unified infrastructure policy does not, of course, prevent America from pursuing innumerable national infrastructure policies. This essay posits that America can take many practical and important steps to manage and improve its infrastructure regardless of whether it has a document called a “national infrastructure policy.”

Mancur Olson,

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Lowery
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Policy Outcomes ◽  
Organized Interests ◽  
Classic Work ◽  
Interest Representation ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
The Many

This chapter focuses on Mancur Olson’s 1965 bookThe Logic ofCollective Action, which offers an in-depth analysis of the role of organized interests and is considered a classic work in the field of public policy. It explains how policy scholars should understand Olson’s contributions in light of work on the politics of interest representation, first by reviewing his central thesis, especially his claims about individual and institutional mobilization in relation to the collective action hypothesis. In particular, it examines the many ways his claims about individual and institutional mobilization have been modified, hedged, and sometimes contradicted by research on interest representation. The chapter then assesses the implications of Olson’s analysis for public policy in terms of how the diversity of interest communities should bias public policy outcomes and influence economic growth. Finally, it emphasizes how Olson’s work tends to be over- and underappreciated by students of both organized interests and public policy.

Approaches to the definition of territorial backwardness in the regional development management

2020 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 60-73
Author(s):  
E. B. Veprikova ◽  
◽  
A. A. Kislenok ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Russian Far East ◽  
Far East ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Spatial Development ◽  
Territorial Development ◽  
Development Management ◽  
Gradual Process ◽  
Definition Of

Reducing the level of interregional differentiation is one of the problems in spatial development management according to the Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation. Presence of significant regional imbalances hampers formation of a common economic, social, cultural, and institutional space and lead to a creation of backward territories which lag behind in the development. The focus of public policy measures on the centers of economic growth, with the concentration of financial and labor resources, without solving the problems of backward territories does not bring the expected effect – overall development and well-being. Local effects in the absence of positive changes in other territories result in the increase in imbalances, which limit the overall effectiveness of the public policy. At the same time, a steadily increasing lag may cause a loss of potential of economic growth and thus forms backward territories. The creation of territorial backwardness is a gradual process. Therefore, diagnosing the state of the territory and identifying the signs of increasing depression is an essential issue of public administration. The article presents the main approaches to the definition of territorial backwardness used in the Russia and overseas, it also reviews the determinants of backward territories. Different methods for identification of backwardness in the territorial development have been tested on the basis of the regions of the Russian Far East.

Global Algorithmic Capital Markets

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Capital Markets ◽  
Systemic Risk ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Investor Protection ◽  
High Frequency Trading ◽  
Market Making ◽  
Market Governance ◽  
Policy Objectives ◽  
The Impact

This book illustrates and assesses the dramatic recent transformations in capital markets worldwide and the impact of those transformations. ‘Market making’ by humans in centralized markets has been replaced by supercomputers and algorithmic high frequency trading operating in often highly fragmented markets. How do recent market changes impact on core public policy objectives such as investor protection, reduction of systemic risk, fairness, efficiency, and transparency in markets? The operation and health of capital markets affect all of us and have profound implications for equality and justice in society. This unique set of chapters by leading scholars, industry insiders, and regulators sheds light on these and related questions and discusses ways to strengthen market governance for the benefit of society at large.

scholarly journals William James and the Sustainable Transformation of Values, with a Case Study for Rethinking the American Dream

Human Arenas ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Croce
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Social Transformation ◽  
American Dream ◽  
William James ◽  
Social Issues ◽  
Virus Spread ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
The Face ◽  
The Many

AbstractThis article addresses the call of the Psychology of Global Crises conference for linkage of academic work with social issues in three parts: First, examples from conference participants with their mix of bold calls for social transformation and realization of limits, a combination that generated few clear paths to achieving them. Second, presentation of Jamesian practical idealism with psychological insights for moving past impediments blocking implementation of ideals. And third, a case study of impacts from the most recent prominent crisis, the global pandemic of 2020, which threatens to exacerbate the many crises that had already been plaguing recent history. The tentacles of COVID’s impact into so many problems, starting with economic impacts from virus spread, present an opportunity to rethink the hope for constant economic growth, often expressed as the American Dream, an outlook that has driven so many of the problems surging toward crises. Jamesian awareness of the construction of ideological differences and encouragement of listening to those in disagreement provide not political solutions, but psychological preludes toward improvements in the face of crises.

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