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Investing In Public Infrastructure: Roads Or Schools?

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  • Atolia, Manoj
  • Li, Bin Grace
  • Marto, Ricardo
  • Melina, Giovanni

Abstract

Why do governments in developing economies favor roads rather than schools in public investment scale-ups? We study this question using a dynamic general equilibrium model and argue that the different pace at which roads and schools contribute to economic growth, public debt intolerance, and political myopia are central to this decision. In a thought experiment with a large return differential in favor of schools, a benevolent government would intuitively devote the majority of an investment scale-up to them. However, the fraction of schools chosen by the government falls with increasing levels of debt intolerance and political myopia. In particular, political myopia is a meaningful explanation for the observed result to the extent that an extremely myopic government would not invest in schools at all.

Suggested Citation

  • Atolia, Manoj & Li, Bin Grace & Marto, Ricardo & Melina, Giovanni, 2021. "Investing In Public Infrastructure: Roads Or Schools?," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 25(7), pages 1892-1921, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:macdyn:v:25:y:2021:i:7:p:1892-1921_9
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    Cited by:

    1. Suescun, Rodrigo, 2020. "A tool for fiscal policy planning in a medium-term fiscal framework: The FMM-MTFF model," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 431-446.
    2. Inderst, Georg, 2020. "Social Infrastructure Finance and Institutional Investors. A Global Perspective," MPRA Paper 99239, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Holtemöller, Oliver & Schult, Christoph, 2019. "Stellungnahme zum "Strukturstärkungsgesetz Kohleregionen" anlässlich der Anhörung im Ausschuss für Wirtschaft und Energie des Deutschen Bundestages am 15. Mai 2019," IWH Online 2/2019, Halle Institute for Economic Research (IWH).
    4. Trofimov, Ivan D., 2020. "Public capital and productive economy profits: evidence from OECD economies," MPRA Paper 106848, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Sperduto Luke, 2019. "Can Human Development Bonds Reduce the Agency Costs of the Resource Curse?," The Law and Development Review, De Gruyter, vol. 12(1), pages 191-245, January.
    6. Carlos Mendez & Erick Gonzales, 2021. "Human Capital Constraints, Spatial Dependence, and Regionalization in Bolivia: A Spatial Clustering Approach," Revista Economía, Fondo Editorial - Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, vol. 44(87), pages 115-145.
    7. Atolia, Manoj & Loungani, Prakash & Marquis, Milton & Papageorgiou, Chris, 2020. "Rethinking development policy: What remains of structural transformation?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).

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