ABSTRACT
Good transport and infrastructure provision are acknowledged as vital ingredients for economic success, but they have often important negative environmental consequences. The argument about the impact of the relative quality of transport and other infrastructure networks, such as water, drainage and telecommunications, has been developed across several decades, with an extensive literature now available encompassing diverse theoretical and empirical analyses of the links between infrastructure investment and economic growth. For example, Banister and Berechman (2001) set out evidence for the simple yet important assertion that locations with poor quality transport are at a competitive disadvantage when compared with those with high quality transport infrastructure. This is a rather straightforward finding. Prioritizing infrastructure investment is an attractive, easily understandable policy position to take for those charged with delivering economic development because it is seen to create employment, improve place attractiveness and competitiveness, and stimulate growth.
