INTERNATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS Infrastructure Investments: A Broad-based Policy Tool for„ Equitable and Sustainable Growth SANJAY PETERS AND PATRICK PINTUS January 2018 „ „ Recent research has shown that rising and persistent inequality(both urban/rural in­equality and urban income gaps) can lead to social and political instability and act as an impediment to long-term sustainable growth. „ „ Leading scholars and practitioners now recommend increased spending on infra­structure to stimulate balanced growth and reduce income gaps, especially between the top and bottom deciles; this should occur not only during downturns but also when economies are growing. „ „ A lack of transparency, coordination, and information about global investment op­portunities in infrastructure, as well as other legal, governance, and monitoring chal­lenges, discourage adequate investment in infrastructure. „ „ A nonpartisan, transparent, and independent global infrastructure investment plat­form, intended to promote development by bringing together all the relevant parties, could offer a way forward to increase stability, which would be attractive to long­term investors and promote equitable and sustainable growth.