America

Abstract

This article examines the types of public infrastructure and compares the grading of the various components of the infrastructure by the American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE). The ASCE’s first “report card” on our nation’s infrastructure took place in 1988. The author compares and contrasts the 2005 report card against the first one from 1988. Most categories have received worse ratings over the years. The importance of a sound infrastructure for economic development is also examined. The article concludes that national leadership is needed to solve America’s infrastructure problems. The political posture of our national government needs to become more positive and proactive to achieve a solution to our infrastructure issues. America’s thousand of local governments cannot be left to their own devices to come up with comprehensive solutions to these nationwide issues concerning our public infrastructure. This article also includes a comprehensive bibliography for this field, as well as a listing of internet resources.