Infrastructure and Economic Growth in Asia

Public spending on infrastructure plays an important role in promoting economic growth and poverty alleviation. Empirical studies unequivocally show that under-investment in infrastructure limit economic growth. At the same time, numerous other studies have shown that investment in infrastructure can be a highly effective tool in fighting poverty reduction1. In that context, the financing of infrastructure has been a critical element of most economic growth and poverty reduction strategies in developing countries, since the start of this millennium. This book provides a comparative analysis of the aggregate and sectoral implications of higher spending on infrastructure in three very different Asian countries: China, Pakistan, and the Philippines. Particular attention is paid to the role of alternative financing mechanisms for increasing public infrastructure investment, namely distortionary and non-distortionary means of financing. The book will be of interest to scholars and policy-makers concerned with economic growth in developing countries.

Investigates the role of public infrastructure investment on economic growth and poverty reduction Provides a comparative analysis of the aggregate and sectoral implications of higher spending on infrastructure Includes case studies based of China, Pakistan, and the Philippines?? Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Inhalt
Introduction.- Infrastructure and Growth.- Approach.- China.- Pakistan.- Philippines.- Summary and conclusion.