Urbanisation is stretching existing infrastructure

How are the global economic slowdown and weaker commodity prices affecting emerging markets infrastructure spending plans?

The repercussions of the credit crunch have seen economic growth forecasts cut across the globe. Concerns about the resultant reduction in demand have sent commodity prices toppling from record highs. In this new climate, do projections for emerging markets infrastructure spending - forecast to reach $21.7tn over the next decade - remain realistic? Firstly, it is important to note that the emerging markets infrastructure spending theme is largely being driven by the Bric economies - Brazil, Russia, India and China - together with the Middle East. While weaker global demand is leading to s...