Determinants of Infrastructure and Its Financing

Abstract

Adequate infrastructure is a critical input for growth and development in all countries, and especially in emerging and developing countries. This article 1 1 The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management. examines the factors that have underpinned the stock of infrastructure across countries, including in Latin America and the Caribbean. We find that public finance and private sector participation both contribute to improving the stock of infrastructure. The impact of public finance depends on how capital investment is financed to meet the government’s budget constraint. Total domestic finance of infrastructure depends, in turn, on domestic financial depth and links to the rest of the world through trade and foreign investment.