Ethics of Infrastructure Reinvestment

Abstract

The fact that infrastructure does not last should not come as a surprise. It is evident within our households and on the streets we traverse every day. Yet, there is a global infrastructure gap. This gap widens not only due to population growth but also due to the failure to proactively renew and maintain aging assets. The repercussions of a backlog in water infrastructure can range from interruptions to water delivery to more serious threats to health and safety. Whether or not these trade-offs are made explicit in reinvestment decisions, they exist.