Building a better case for infrastructure investment

In the American city of Atlanta, an abandoned railroad track turned pedestrian path is connecting communities and erasing a redline that once separated them.

In the United Kingdom, a new crosstown rail line is not only expected to improve the commute into London, it may also help some residents live longer by connecting poorer parts of the city with the economic opportunities in the center.

In China, restoring a river running through the center of Nantong is enhancing the sustainability of this industrial port city and improving the wellbeing of the local population.

What connects these projects? Each one delivers “social impact” dividends and addresses pressing challenges that extend value beyond the more traditional economic benchmarks guiding most infrastructure investment today.

Infrastructure's value as a driver of economic growth is a tried and tested measure of success. Potential economic returns are almost always cited in building the case for investment. Indeed, governments looking to reboot economies when the coronavirus pandemic eases are likely to turn to infrastructure precisely for its strengths as an economic multiplier.

Infrastructure’s value as a driver of economic growth is a tried and tested measure of success. Potential economic returns are almost always cited in building the case for investment. Indeed, governments looking to reboot economies when the coronavirus pandemic eases are likely to turn to infrastructure precisely for its strengths as an economic multiplier.

In making the case for infrastructure, social benefits tend to fit the ‘nice to have’ category. In part, this is because they are harder to measure – making success harder to claim. But when it comes to extending value for communities looking to rebuild and adapt to our new normal, social returns are essential.

If the crisis prompts a re-appraisal of societal concerns – as we think it will – it is likely that social needs will get more attention in future. According to psychologist Abraham Maslow's influential theory on the hierarchy of needs, many people will shift toward a greater appreciation of benefits such as protecting public health, correcting social inequities, improving access, boosting quality of life, and enhancing wellbeing.

The move to consider social value has been building for some time due to a variety of factors. Moved to action by climate change worries, the public has been applying greater pressure on corporations and governments to do right by society in their investment decision-making. Companies are finding that a strong environment, social and governance (ESG) proposition can drive value and safeguard long-term success. And governments – mindful of the inextricable link between physical infrastructure and public benefits – are also setting terms during the procurement process that require greater social value considerations, like developing new skills in local populations.

In the wake of tragic and massive fires and hurricanes around the world, cities have been increasing investment in the resilience of physical systems, a proper assessment of which covers social as well as environmental pressures. Dealing with coronavirus is testing some of those systems to the maximum.

In the future, what’s needed is a greater focus on developing standardized, accepted measurement tools to better quantify direct and indirect social impacts. Environmental rating systems provide an organized framework and standardized metrics for measuring performance. If a similar system were developed for social impact, it would offer insight into, extend advocacy for and showcase projects that are not just best in the world, but best for the world.

The challenge will always be in measuring success: how do you assess the true benefit of a project on people’s lives over time, in driving wellbeing, or in generating meaningful social change?

In the UK, the Social Value Portal is bringing additional rigor and consistency to the task of evaluating different strands of social impact using financial and non-financial information and drawing in the public- and private-sectors, third parties and even competing professional services companies. Work to assess the whole-life value of buildings and infrastructure, not just whole-life costs, plays to sustainability standards set by many governments, especially in Europe and Asia-Pacific.

“You should be looking at social value in a lifecycle sense,’’ says Nathan Goode, director of the Social Value Portal. “We’re on a journey and looking at social value in an integrated holistic way is relatively new … If you think about the long game and how you’re building capacity, enabling organizations to stand on their own feet and draw down on the resources that they need to make that happen, you’re going to be in a great place.’’

Value judgements

In London, the Crossrail project is expected to generate a £42 billion benefit to the UK economy when it’s completed in 2021. In addition to this headline figure, the benefits commonly touted include offering 1.5 million additional people access to central London within 45 minutes.

But improving rail service doesn’t just mean saving commuting time. A University College London research project suggests it can also improve life expectancy through greater access to services and opportunity. The 2012 study determined that life expectancy for a man in Westminster, one of the most affluent sections of London, was 77.7 years. However, board the Underground in Westminster and travel east seven miles (6 stops) and you find yourself in Canning Town. Life expectancy for a man there? 71.6 years.

Can you put an economic value on seven years of someone’s life? Of course not. Those who attempt to do so have been equating value with monetary worth. With a proper way of measuring social impact, this confusion would be less likely to arise.The challenge will always be in measuring success: how do you assess the true benefit of a project on people’s lives over time, in driving wellbeing, or in generating meaningful social change?

In the UK, the Social Value Portal is bringing additional rigor and consistency to the task of evaluating different strands of social impact using financial and non-financial information and drawing in the public- and private-sectors, third parties and even competing professional services companies. Work to assess the whole-life value of buildings and infrastructure, not just whole-life costs, plays to sustainability standards set by many governments, especially in Europe and Asia-Pacific.

What’s clear is that helping clients land on the right measurement systems requires transparency, data, a holistic view and patience. Creating a common way of talking about and reporting social value can be a driver of change, while encouraging collaboration, authenticity and openness.

The time is right for change

Far from a great leveler, the coronavirus is amplifying existing inequalities. Those with the least secure jobs and tenure have been hit hardest and will find it most difficult to bounce back.

We should seize this moment as an opportunity to help them. Around the world, interest rates are at historic lows and governments are weighing trillions of dollars in stimulus programs. Despite the crisis, tens of billions of private sector dollars are available in capital globally.

Traditionally, infrastructure investment has been key to getting economies back on their feet. In their selection of projects, decision makers should not lose sight of social objectives. If we are to emerge from this pandemic stronger, we must ensure that those who were already disadvantaged before the crisis are not left behind.

In the long term, our industry can play an advocacy role in advancing a universally accepted measurement scheme useful for government, the private sector and investors alike, and by focusing attention on projects and innovative approaches that incorporate social impact thinking – from the design and planning stages, to delivery and throughout the project life-cycle.

This process should start now: creating a common way of talking about and reporting social impact can be a driver of change.

Blending competing models in pursuit of an easily understood standard should become the objective, as well as in attaching measurement to setting goals for what infrastructure ought to achieve – including benchmarks for job creation, social equity and accessibility. As a McKinsey & Co. report in January 2020 affirms, gains from infrastructure are fully realized only when projects generate tangible public benefits. Increasingly, those benefits include everything from building resiliency against climate change to reducing inequalities in our cities.

“The business case for infrastructure projects should consider social and environmental benefits,’’ says Stephen Engblom, AECOM’s Global Cities Director. “Rallying support for these projects is easier if the community understands not only the dangers that these projects seek to prevent, but also the benefits they can enjoy.’’

Traditionally, infrastructure investment has been key to getting economies back on their feet. In their selection of projects, decision makers should not lose sight of social objectives. If we are to emerge from this pandemic stronger, we must ensure that those who were already disadvantaged before the crisis are not left behind.