Attracting private sector participation in infrastructure investment: the UK case

Abstract

Infrastructure investments are often considered by governments that are looking for private sector investment in infrastructure. However, private investors tend to have a cautious attitude towards this class of investments. This paper focuses on the UK's financial and regulatory drawbacks to infrastructure investment. The authors conclude that regulatory conditions are key levers for the UK government to attract increased private sector participation.

Keywords:

• Infrastructure investment
• infrastructure funds
• institutional investors
• pension funds
• private investment

Notes

*By ‘infrastructure investment’, we refer to investment in three main categories of existing types of infrastructure: transportation, utilities and social infrastructure. Transportation refers to bridges, toll roads, airports, seaports, tunnels etc. Utilities include electricity, energy, gas, water, and waste. The third category (social infrastructure) encompasses schools, hospitals, prisons etc. (Beeferman, 2008).