In-Kind Infrastructure Investments by Public Pensions: The Queensland Motorways Case Study

Stanford Global Projects Center, June 5, 2017

23 Pages Posted: 8 Jun 2017

See all articles by Michael Bennon

Michael Bennon

Stanford University - Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law

Ashby Monk

Stanford University

YJ Cho

Stanford University

Date Written: June 5, 2017

Abstract

OECD countries require billions in infrastructure investment for new projects and the rehabilitation of old assets. Public pensions are likewise underfunded and in need of stable, inflation-linked investment opportunities uncorrelated with the rest of their portfolio, making infrastructure a seemingly strong fit. This has led to calls to facilitate more direct investment by public pension funds in infrastructure. In truth there are many impediments to such programs. Under the right policy and institutional conditions, however, direct public pension investments can yield considerable value for taxpayers and retirement beneficiaries alike, in part by overcoming the market inefficiencies and valuation problems inherent to infrastructure investment. This paper uses the case of a toll road network in Queensland, Australia to examine the potential for direct public pension investments in infrastructure. In 2011, the Queensland Government transferred a 40-year concession to operate Queensland Motorways to the Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) – a government-owned company that manages that state’s defined benefit public pension.

Keywords: Infrastructure Investment, Public Pensions, Public-Private Partnerships, In-kind Contributions, Value for Money

JEL Classification: G23, G28, H54, H55

Suggested Citation

Bennon, Michael and Monk, Ashby and Cho, YJ, In-Kind Infrastructure Investments by Public Pensions: The Queensland Motorways Case Study (June 5, 2017). Stanford Global Projects Center, June 5, 2017, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2981707 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2981707

Michael Bennon (Contact Author)

Stanford University - Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law ( email )

616 Serra St. C100
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6055
United States

HOME PAGE: http://https://cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/infrastructure

Ashby Monk

Stanford University ( email )

United States

YJ Cho

Stanford University ( email )

Stanford, CA 94305
United States

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