In a world on the brink of a global recession caused by COVID-19, the Infrastructure efforts of today and tomorrow are more crucial than ever. They are an indispensable countercyclical tool to mitigate the negative effects of the economic paralysis. But they also constitute a pivotal component of a country’s development and competitiveness in the long term. That is why infrastructure will continue to play a critical role even when the pandemic crisis has been tamed. Rapid demographic growth, increasing urbanization, especially in developing countries, coupled with the mounting climate change are challenges that won’t disappear with the virus. These significant challenges will come with equally difficult questions. How to cope with these long-term trends? How to finance the increasing need of infrastructure? Which major international actors will take the lead?  And finally, what role will technology play in shaping the future of infrastructure efforts?

Table of Contents

Introduction

Part I - Infrastructure: An Overview

1. Infrastructure Between Old and New Trends, Alberto Belladonna, Alessandro Gili (ISPI)

2. Infrastructure Gap and the Lost Growth, Luca Milani, Stefano Napoletano, Nicola Sandri (McKinsey & Company)

3. Infrastructure Investment and Political Risk, Andrea Gorga, Andrea De Meo, Claudio Cesaroni (SACE SIMEST)

4. Reorganisation of the Infrastructure Sector and New Forms of Financing, Remo Dalla Longa (Bocconi University)

Part II - Geopolitics

5. The Support of the EU for the Development of Infrastructure, Carlo Secchi (ISPI)

6. The International Dimension of the EU Infrastructure Strategy, Stefano Paci (European Commission)

7. A Geopolitical Perspective on China’s Infrastructure Development, Alessia Amighini (ISPI)

8. US Strategy for Global Infrastructure, Daniel Runde (CSIS)

Part III - Needs and Future Trends

9. Does Europe Need Continental Champions in Construction To Cope with Global Competition?, Stefano Riela (Bocconi University)

10. Transitioning Towards More Sustainable and Quality Infrastructure, Daniel Taras (GIZ)

11. Public Finance for Sustainability: A Useful Tool for Policymakers, Matteo Rivellini (EIB)

12. The Role of Technology in Future Infrastructure, Luca Milani, Stefano Napoletano, Nicola Sandri (McKinsey & Company)

Conclusions. The Imperative of International Cooperation for Quality Infrastructure