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Infrastructure projects: Roads to nowhere

 

Published 12/11/2008 at The Economist: Full print edition

America is in danger of getting the wrong kind of infrastructure WITH the economy in recession and unemployment quickly rising, America’s elected leader prepares to put hundreds of thousands of people to work on infrastructure projects. Visiting the site of a new road, he sums up his agenda in three words: “Jobs, jobs, jobs”. Barack Obama in 2008? No, that was George Bush senior in 1991. Politicians have long seen public works as a solution to economic woes. But few presidents have been as keen to spend as Mr Obama, or as pressured. America’s mayors have their wish list of projects, which cost about $73 billion. State governors are pushing for $136 billion-worth of projects. ... (link)

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