McKinsey released a new working paper on infrastructure development.

The report focuses on the evolution of the very concept of “infrastructure.” Traditional sectors such as transport, energy, digital networks, and social facilities are increasingly interconnected, forming new integrated infrastructure systems. Moreover, their development depends on reliable supporting services (e.g., financial and technical maintenance) and substantial capital investment — with cumulative investment needs for modernization and operations projected at USD 106 trillion by 2040.

Modern infrastructure is described as a complex, decentralized, digital, and energy-efficient ecosystem shaped by private capital flows, user demand, and competition. It is also a powerful multiplier of economic growth, creating new models of interaction between government, business, and society. Its effectiveness, however, hinges on the ability to respond to both internal and external challenges, including technological obsolescence, urban population growth, digitalization, the energy transition, and labor shortages.