California’s Infrastructure Policy for the 21st Century: Issues and Opportunities

Although California will need to invest an estimated $82 billion in its infrastructure over the next decade, projected state and local revenue sources will meet only half of this need.  In California’s Infrastructure Policy for the 21^st Century: Issues and Opportunities, David Dowall offers market-oriented solutions to this problem.  He urges policymakers to concentrate on management rather than the direct provision of infrastructure; to prioritize needs by focusing on how much the public is willing to pay for them; and to manage demand in such areas as energy, transportation, and water supply.  Even as the state fosters demand-oriented competition, however, it must ensure that all households and businesses have access to high-quality infrastructure services at fair prices.