VIDEO
Robert Puentes, January 27, 2012
Robert Puentes draws the distinction between building a "bridge to nowhere" and investing in the long-term growth and strength of the U.S. economy via infrastructure investments.
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Katz and Judith Rodin, January 19, 2012, The Atlantic Cities
To improve regional trade and competitiveness, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has proposed a new infrastructure plan, even as the state faces fiscal challenges. Bruce Katz and Judith Rodin explore the benefits of implementing the plan through strategic investments. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, December 19, 2011, The Brookings Institution
In December 1991, President George H.W. Bush signed a transportation bill aimed at providing regions with flexibility to design funding plans to meet their needs. Robert Puentes examines the effectiveness of the policy and scans the infrastructure landscape, finding that many regions are planning innovations largely without the help of a federal framework. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes and Emilia Istrate, December 09, 2011, The Avenue, The New Republic
Major structural events such as collapsed bridges, failing dams, or ruptured water mains exemplify the current poor condition of U.S. infrastructure. Robert Puentes and Emilia Istrate examine the idea of forming public private partnerships to manage infrastructure investments, discussing potential management units for these partnerships. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Emilia Istrate and Robert Puentes, December 08, 2011, The Brookings Institution
Leveraging private-sector financial resources and expertise to deliver infrastructure projects has growing appeal. However, U.S. public entities are under-equipped to consider such deals and fully protect the public interest. Emilia Istrate and Robert Puentes argue that America should follow other countries’ examples and establish public/private partnership units to help manage and deliver infrastructure projects. Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, December 01, 2011
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Washington, DC
On December 1, the Latin America Initiative at Brookings and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration hosted a discussion on the opportunities open to Central America and the role of the public and private sector in the development of infrastructure and energy projects. Read More
PAST EVENT
Monday, November 21, 2011
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
With the November 23 deadline quickly approaching, the U.S. Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction continues to work toward a potential deal to reduce the budget deficit by at least $1.2 trillion. Yet, questions on what to cut and how remain at the center of a contentious political debate. On November 21, the Brookings Institution hosted a discussion on the budget deficit and the future of the American economy. Panelists included Brookings Senior Fellow Michael O’Hanlon, author of The Wounded Giant: America's Armed Forces in an Age of Austerity (Penguin, 2011), Vice President Bruce Katz, director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings and Brookings Senior Fellow Alice Rivlin, co-chair of the Domenici-Rivlin Debt Reduction Task Force. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Robert Puentes, November 16, 2011, Joint Economic Committee, United States Congress
In this testimony, Robert Puentes describes the need for targeted ways to boost exports and manufacturing through next generation of infrastructure to move goods, ideas, and services quickly and efficiently by air, land, and sea. This means fixing the institutions and partnerships that deliver infrastructure today as well as the process for choosing such investments. Read More
PAST EVENT
Monday, October 31, 2011
9:00 AM to 3:45 PM
Washington, DC
On October 31, the Energy Security Initiative at Brookings and the Hoover Institution’s Energy Task Force hosted experts from the public and private sectors for a series of discussions to address the potential of Distributed Power Systems (DPS), a combination of distributed generation sources and grid storage. By using localized sources of generation, electricity consumers have an opportunity to play a role in stabilizing and supporting the U.S. electrical grid, which requires substantial investment to continue to provide reliable power for a growing, increasingly electricity-dependent population. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Richard Joseph, October 31, 2011, WBEZ 91.5
In a radio interview with WBEZ 91.5, Richard Joseph reflects on Nigeria's youth, corruption, failed infrastructure and the economic inequities facing the country. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
John P. Banks, Kevin Massy, Lisa V. Wood, Jeremy Carl, Amy Guy Wagner, Pedram Mokrian, Jelena Simjanovic and David Slayton, October 2011, The Brookings Institution Energy Security Initiative and The Hoover Institution Shultz-Stephenson Task Force on Energy Policy
This study examines the economic, environmental and energy security case for distributed power systems: a combination of distributed sources of power production, and distributed energy storage. The authors outline recommendations for policymakers in dealing with these systems, arguing that they have the potential to contribute significantly to the U.S. power system and to the U.S. military's energy needs. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Barry P. Bosworth and Sveta Milusheva, October 20, 2011, The Brookings Institution and the Nomura Foundation Macro Economy Research Conference
Barry Bosworth and Sveta Milusheva evaluate approaches to financing infrastructure projects. The authors examine trends in infrastructure spending, consider investments in the green economy, and focus on three possible financing options: Build America bonds, an infrastructure bank and public-private partnerships. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Elizabeth Ferris, October 17, 2011, The Brookings Institution
At a recent Brookings event, Elizabeth Ferris discussed the challenges facing urban centers following natural disasters, saying that this issue is one that the humanitarian community is just beginning to address. Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, October 06, 2011
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Washington, DC
Population growth, urbanization and climate change expose increasing numbers of people to natural hazards in urban areas. On October 6, the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement and Habitat for Humanity International hosted a discussion on the challenges of urban disaster recovery, focusing on shelter and housing, urban planning, long-term reconstruction, and disaster risk reduction as components in disaster- and climate-proofing our cities. Read More
PAST EVENT
Wednesday, October 05, 2011
9:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Washington, DC
On October 5, the Africa Growth Initiative hosted a meeting with Jean-Louis EKRA, President of the African Export Import Bank to discuss infrastructure investments that might better facilitate trade between African nations. Participants examined the role that the private and public sector should play in closing Africa’s infrastructural deficit.
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