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Access to infrastructure services: Global trends and drivers

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  • Steckel, Jan Christoph
  • Rao, Narasimha D.
  • Jakob, Michael

Abstract

Infrastructure services are essential to human development. Yet, the drivers of service access at a global scale remain largely unexplored. This paper presents trends and global patterns in access to water, sanitation, electricity, and telephony services. Using a panel data set from 1990 to 2010, we empirically explore plausible determinants of access rates to key infrastructure services. Although per-capita GDP is correlated with access rates, access still varies significantly at comparable income levels. Much of this variation is explained by differences in population density. Access levels are higher for urban areas and highest for water, followed by sanitation, electricity, and telephony.

Suggested Citation

  • Steckel, Jan Christoph & Rao, Narasimha D. & Jakob, Michael, 2017. "Access to infrastructure services: Global trends and drivers," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 109-117.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:juipol:v:45:y:2017:i:c:p:109-117
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2017.03.001
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    1. Why GDP Still Matters
      by Bjørn Lomborg in Project Syndicate on 2019-06-20 13:21:26

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