This paper examines the public finance underpinnings for an enhanced focus on different types of long-term investments as well as on operations and maintenance of existing investments. It first introduces the public finance envelope and revenue generation, then analyses alternative investment instruments and fiscal implications. After that, it focuses on the overall revenue challenge and addresses issues from taxation levels, tax instruments, and administrative and intergovernmental implications of efficient tax policy design. Followed by that, it explicates related governance and accountability issues and draws conclusions.

This paper is part of the working paper series “Infrastructure Finance in the Developing World” and is a joint research effort by GGGI and the G-24, exploring the challenges and opportunities for scaling up infrastructure finance in emerging markets and developing countries.