Infrastructures are the very foundation of modern economies and societies. Energy, transport, water, telecommunications, all will continue to be essential to future development and growth. However, infrastructure investment requirements over the coming decades will be massive, running into trillions of dollars. Part of this investment will be in the developing world, especially in the major economies such as China, India and Brazil. But OECD countries, too, will account for a huge share, much of it in infrastructures that have been seriously neglected in many countries, e.g. water and waste water treatment.

How will the investments be financed, given that OECD populations are ageing fast and public finances tightening? How will such factors as urbanisation, climate change and globalisation affect the development of infrastructures in OECD countries? How will the role of the public sector and private actors evolve over time? These are just some of the questions this OECD report addresses in its long-term assessment of the future of infrastructures.