The Infrastructure and Austerity Connection

Good morning! This week we feature the full paper from Dr. Heather Whiteside - assistant professor of political science at the University of Waterloo and fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs - on the intersections between fiscal policy, finance, and infrastructure post-2008. As revenues stagnate, infrastructure spending increasingly turns to 'alternate financing', and financial institutions like hedge and pension funds (looking for sustained returns in a low growth environment) increasingly become major players. Similar to public-private partnerships (P3s), investor returns are typically favoured over public interests or costs. Dr. Whiteside also discusses the alternatives available for infrastructure in the current monetary environment.

You can find the Paper on our 'Research Page' under 'Spending, Reform, and Marketization'.

To see more from Heather, you can visit her profile at the University of Waterloo: https://uwaterloo.ca/political-science/people-profiles/heather-whiteside

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