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Institutional Investors and Infrastructure Investing
[Pension fund asset allocation and liability discount rates]

Author

Listed:
  • Aleksandar Andonov
  • Roman Kräussl
  • Joshua Rauh
  • Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh

Abstract

Institutional investors expect infrastructure to deliver long-term stable returns but gain exposure to infrastructure predominantly through finite-horizon closed private funds. The cash flows delivered by infrastructure funds display similar volatility and cyclicality as other private equity investments, and their performance similarly depends on quick deal exits. Despite weak risk-adjusted performance and failure to match the supposed characteristics of infrastructure assets, closed funds have received more commitments over time, particularly from public investors. Public institutional investors perform worse than private institutional investors. ESG preferences and regulations explain 25–40 of their increased allocation to infrastructure and 30 of their underperformance.

Suggested Citation

  • Aleksandar Andonov & Roman Kräussl & Joshua Rauh & Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, 2021. "Institutional Investors and Infrastructure Investing [Pension fund asset allocation and liability discount rates]," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 34(8), pages 3880-3934.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:rfinst:v:34:y:2021:i:8:p:3880-3934.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/rfs/hhab048
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Zaghum Umar & Adam Zaremba & Ammar Ali Gull & Tatiana Sokolova, 2024. "Beyond traditional financial asset classes: The demand for infrastructure in a multi‐period asset allocation framework," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(3), pages 2581-2592, July.
    2. Zhang, Ping & Ma, Binbin & Chi, Chuenyu, 2025. "Institutional investors and ESG performance: Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 1159-1181.
    3. Poutré, Cédric & Dionne, Georges & Yergeau, Gabriel, 2023. "International high-frequency arbitrage for cross-listed stocks," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    4. Chung, Kenneth Hsien Yung & Li, Dan & Adriaens, Peter, 2023. "Technology-enabled financing of sustainable infrastructure: A case for blockchains and decentralized oracle networks," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    5. Salvatore Esposito De Falco & Raffaella Montera & Sabrina Leo & Francesco Laviola & Pietro Vito & Domenico Sardanelli & Gianpaolo Basile & Giulia Nevi & Raffaele Alaia, 2024. "Trends and patterns in ESG research: A bibliometric odyssey and research agenda," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(5), pages 3703-3723, September.
    6. Krystyna Brzozowska, 2023. "Institutional Investors in Private Equity Funds in Europe," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 651-659.
    7. William N Goetzmann & Christophe Spaenjers & Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, 2021. "Real and Private-Value Assets [Gendered prices]," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 34(8), pages 3497-3526.
    8. Zhan, Huawang & Shen, Huayu & Guo, Hui, 2025. "Research on the impact of ESG scores on corporate substantive and strategic green innovation," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 4(1).
    9. Alexander Carlo & Piet Eichholtz & Nils Kok & Ruud Wijnands, 2023. "Pension fund investments in infrastructure," Journal of Asset Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 24(5), pages 329-345, September.
    10. Spohr, Jonas & Wikström, Kim & Ronikonmäki, Niko-Matti & Lepech, Michael & In, Soh Young, 2024. "Are private investors overcompensated in infrastructure projects?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 1-8.
    11. Bernardo Bortolotti & Giacomo Loss & Robert W. Zwieten, 2023. "The times are they a-changin’? Tracking sovereign wealth funds’ sustainable investing," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(3), pages 276-305, September.
    12. Daniel Dimitrov, 2025. "Untangling Illiquidity: Optimal Asset Allocation with Private Asset Classes," Working Papers 827, DNB.
    13. Douglas Cumming & Satish Kumar & Weng Marc Lim & Nitesh Pandey, 2023. "Mapping the venture capital and private equity research: a bibliometric review and future research agenda," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(1), pages 173-221, June.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • G11 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Portfolio Choice; Investment Decisions
    • G23 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • H54 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Infrastructures
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare

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