Foundations of the Future

Foundations of the Future examines the geo-economic and geo-strategic implications of a growing global 'battle' to promote infrastructural connectivity across and between continents of the world. In this context, it highlights the importance of China's Belt and Road Initiative and of corresponding initiatives by the United States, Japan, India and Australia, among others.This book argues that many of the world's most advanced economies have neglected investment in basic infrastructure in recent decades, at a potential cost to their future economic and social development. It examines some of the financial and ideological constraints behind this neglect and argues that advanced economies in general need to adopt fundamental reforms in their approach to infrastructure. By emphasising the 'battle' elements of emerging infrastructure competition among major powers, the book sets out to alert policymakers to the danger of some of these powers losing out in what is becoming a race to stay ahead or even abreast of others in the bid to achieve global physical connectivity.Contents: Introduction — Infrastructure: An Economic and Strategic Game ChangerInfrastructure and the Rise and Fall of NationsWhere in the World are Infrastructure Needs Greatest?Infrastructure and How the West was LostChina's 'Belt and Road' — An Imperial Highway to the Future?Belt and Road Rivals EmergeThe 'Great Game' Replayed — With Higher StakesThe Infrastructure Bill — And Who Will PayWays to Boost Returns on Infrastructure InvestmentInfrastructure and the Cost of CorruptionInfrastructure in the Sustainable Investment UniverseQuantity versus Quality in InfrastructureMultilateral Development Banks and the Infrastructure GapConclusions: The Need for New Thinking on Infrastructure
Readership: General readers, economists, financial analysts, engineers, politicians, diplomats, university students, logistics specialists, academics.Infrastructure;Battle;Belt and Road;BRI;Connectivity;AIIB. ADB. MDBs. Financing Gap;Poverty;Strategic;Logistics;Great Game;China;United States;Europe;Asia;Disasters;Environment;Climate Change;Engineering;Highways;Railways;Communications;Energy;Water;India;Australia;AAGC;Trilateral Partnership;SDGs;Sustainable Investment;Corruption0Key Features:The book will be a needed contribution toward seeing infrastructure development in a more "holistic" wayThe book is as much a political statement as an economic analysis — a perspective which the author is able to bring to bear as a veteran journalist. In doing so, he hopes that the volume will appeal as much to the general reader as to a more specialised audience