Executive Summary
The report aims to enhance understanding of infrastructure investment's role in supporting inclusive growth priorities, contributing to the development of a new infrastructure prioritization framework for Scotland. This project collaborates with EKOS Ltd on behalf of Scottish Futures Trust.
Six Critical Questions Addressed:
Theme 1: Illustrating a Wide Boundary Understanding of Infrastructure
- Q1: Investigates whether adopting a broader infrastructure definition, encompassing natural and social investments, challenges findings from the Fraser of Allander Report.
- Q2: Explores international evidence on infrastructure's impact on inclusive growth.
Theme 2: New Perspectives for Appraisal and Evaluation
- Q3: Examines lessons from international best practices in infrastructure appraisal frameworks.
- Q4: Analyzes changes in understanding and measuring economic value, particularly within inclusive growth frameworks globally.
- Q5: Discusses methods to evaluate economic health beyond individual sectors or policy areas.
- Q6: Proposes shifts in practitioner thinking towards dynamic prioritization frameworks.
Key Findings:
- Social Infrastructure: Institutions and trust are essential for growth resilience against external shocks.
- Human Infrastructure: Reducing poverty-linked mental illness is vital for inclusive growth.
- Natural Infrastructure: Investments correlate with diverse health benefits and behavioral improvements.
- Maintenance: Balancing maintenance with capital investment is crucial.
Recommendations:
- Adopt a broader taxonomy of infrastructure.
- Mobilize knowledge effectively through complexity theory and systems thinking.
- Enhance infrastructure prioritization considering dynamic frameworks and emerging systems.
Future Directions:
- Further research on integration into Scotland's infrastructure planning process.
Conclusion
The report provides insights into integrating a comprehensive view of infrastructure into Scotland's infrastructure planning, emphasizing the importance of inclusive growth considerations across various infrastructure types. It suggests moving beyond traditional economic frameworks and embracing complexity theory and systems thinking for better decision-making processes.
