Infrastructure: A More Comprehensive Policy is Needed
Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 120, Issue 2
Abstract
Infrastructure investment to create jobs is an attractive short‐run economic strategy, but a fragmented policy. A comprehensive infrastructure policy should be a tool for economic growth, research and development, and human‐resources development, and should also benefit educational institutions, urban areas, public health, and the environment. Industrial policy can provide concepts that focus on the contributions infrastructure can make to the economy, education and training, technology and development, and the retraining of workers in shrinking industries. This approach can help remake institutional links and bring interests together in different ways, the greatest needs of employment policy. Use of educational institutions and public works agencies can provide an effective management mechanism and help overcome past problems. Federal investments are required to initiate such a program. The goal of the present paper is to stimulate discussion about how civil engineers can contribute to this strategy. Discussion of the present paper can greatly help the ongoing national‐policy discussion of these critical issues.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
1.
Becker, G. S. (1993). “The myth of industrial policy.” Business Week, 3268(May 25), 18.
2.
Biles, R. (1991). A new deal for the American people, Northern Illinois University Press, Dekalb, Ill.
3.
Breyer, N. (1988). “Japan's public works system: a layman's guide.” J. Am. Chamber of Commerce in Japan, July.
4.
Burns, J. M. (1990). The crosswinds of freedom. Vintage Books, Random House, New York, N.Y.
5.
Clawson, M. (1981). New deal planning, the national resources planning board. Johns Hopkins Press, Baltimore, Md.
6.
Clinton, B., and Gore, A. (1992). Putting people first. Times Books, New York, N.Y.
7.
Delivering the goods, public works technologies, management and financing. (1991). U.S. Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), Washington, D.C.
8.
Farrell, C., and Mandel, M. (1992). “Industrial Policy.” Business Week, (April 6), 70–75.
9.
Forman, C. (1993). “The hidden dangers of industrial policy.” Wall Street J., 128(168; Mar. 1), A10.
10.
Fragile foundations: a report on America's public works. (1988). National Council on Public Works Improvement. Washington, D.C.
11.
Grigg, N. S. (1990). “Report of the task force on the education of future public works managers.” American Public Works Association, Chicago, Ill.
12.
Grigg, N. S. (1993). “Infrastructure and economic development: role of civil engineers.” J. Prof. Issues in Engrg. Education and Practice, ASCE, 119(1), 51–61.
13.
Grigg, N. S. (1994). “Infrastructure management: U.S. and Japanese systems contrasted.” J. the Urban Plng. and Dev., ASCE, 119(1).
14.
“He wants your job.” (1993). Economist, London, England, 327(7815), 16.
15.
“The infrastructure problem and the role of the civil engineer.” (1982). Civ. Engrg., ASCE, 52(10), 41–43.
16.
“Investment.” (1992). Transition series, GAO/OCG‐93‐2TR, December, U.S. General Accounting Office, Washington, D.C.
17.
Japanese economy and public works spending: from the 1990's into the 21st century. (1991). Research Institute on Construction and the Economy (RICE), Tokyo, Japan, July.
18.
“Of pork and politics.” (1993). ENR, 230(20), 60.
19.
Thurow, L. C. (1992). Head to head, William Morrow and Co., New York, N.Y.
20.
“Transferring research into practice: lessons from Japan's construction industry.” (1991). Rep., Civil Engineering Research Foundation (CERF), Washington, D.C., November.
21.
Weir, M. (1992). Politics and jobs: the boundaries of employment policy in the United States. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J.
22.
Zinmeister, K. (1993). “The great industrial policy hoax.” Wall Street Journal, 128(175; Mar. 10), A10.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jul 12, 1993
Published online: Apr 1, 1994
Published in print: Apr 1994
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.