Infrastructure and development: a critical appraisal of the macro level literature

Stephane Straub

No 4590, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

Abstract: This survey reviews the existing macro-level empirical literature on the link between infrastructure and development outcomes in a critical light. After providing a general framework that casts the relevant terms of the controversy on the real effect of infrastructure on growth in the context of an aggregate production function, it signals what are the relevant empirical questions to be addressed. This guides the systematic review of a number of empirical studies and the discussion of the main econometric challenges to the identification of the effect of infrastructure on output and productivity. Finally, building on related research, in particular in contract theory and political economy, the paper spells out several promising research avenues.

Keywords: Transport Economics Policy&Planning; Banks&Banking Reform; Economic Theory&Research; Political Economy; Non Bank Financial Institutions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008-04-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev, nep-hpe and nep-mac
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (22)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Infrastructure and Development: A Critical Appraisal of the Macro-level Literature (2011)
Working Paper: Infrastructure and Development: A Critical Appraisal of the Macro-level Literature (2007)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:4590

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