Infrastructure investment has long been held as an accelerator or a driver of the economy. Internationally, the UK ranks poorly with the performance of infrastructure and ranks in the lower percentile for both infrastructure investment and GDP growth rate amongst comparative nations. Faced with the uncertainty of Brexit and the likely negative economic impact this will bring, infrastructure investment may be used to strengthen the UK economy. This study aims to examine how infrastructure funding impacts economic growth and how best the UK can maximize this potential by building on existing work.
The research method is based on interviews carried out with respondents involved in infrastructure operating across various sectors. The findings show that investment in infrastructure is vital in the UK as it stimulates economic growth through employment creation due to factor productivity. However, it is critical for investment to be directed to regional opportunity areas with the potential to unlock economic growth and maximize returns whilst stimulating further growth to benefit other regions. There is also a need for policy consistency and to review UK infrastructure policy to streamline the process and to reduce cost and time overrun, with Brexit likely to impact negatively on infrastructure investment.

Intra-regional trade serves as a key growth engine for East Asian economies. Accompanying the rapid growth of bilateral and intra-regional trade ties, the East Asian economies are becoming increasingly connected and interdependent. Infrastructure connectivity plays a crucial role in bridging different areas of the East Asian region and enabling them to reap the full socioeconomic benefits of economic cooperation and integration. Nevertheless, further improvement of infrastructure in the region faces major challenges due to the lack of effective mechanisms for coordination and dialogue on regional integration through funding infrastructure projects, as well as the serious trust deficit among member states that has arisen from the on-going territorial and historical disputes.

This research implements sustainable environmental practices by repurposing post-industrial plastic waste as an alternative material for non-conventional construction systems. Focusing on the development of a recycled polymer matrix, the study produces panels suitable for masonry applications based on tensile and compressive stress performance. The project, conducted in Portoviejo and Medellín, comprises three phases combining bibliographic and experimental research. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polypropylene (PP) were processed under controlled temperatures to form a composite matrix. This material demonstrates versatile applications upon cooling—including planks, blocks, caps, signage, and furniture (e.g., chairs). Key findings indicate optimal performance of the recycled thermoplastic polymer matrix at a 1:1:1 ratio of LDPE, HDPE, and PP, exhibiting 15% deformation. The proposed implementation features 50 × 10 × 7 cm panels designed with tongue-and-groove joints. When assembled into larger plates, these panels function effectively as masonry for housing construction, wall cladding, or lightweight fill material for slab relieving.

This study explores the transformative role of art design interventions in the sustainable development and infrastructure enhancement of intangible cultural heritage, with a particular focus on honored brands. The research develops a framework that positions aesthetic and interactive art design interventions as pivotal components in revitalizing these brands. Aesthetic interventions translate the brand’s core philosophy, spirit, and values into compelling visual symbols, harmonizing cultural heritage with modern image design to elevate brand reputation and consumer preference. Interactive interventions enhance user experience, particularly among younger demographics, by integrating technological and entertainment-based engagement, thereby strengthening consumer loyalty and brand influence. The study further investigates how these art design interventions serve as catalysts for broader social development, contributing to the modern relevance and societal impact of time-honored brands. Additionally, it examines the impact of these interventions on sustainable development, societal support, and policy alignment. By weaving together these elements, the research underscores the critical importance of aligning brand strategies with societal goals, fostering environments where brands actively contribute to social welfare and sustainable growth. The findings offer valuable theoretical insights and practical strategies for the sustainable development of time-honored brands, providing clear directions for future research and practice.

Developing Asia’s infrastructure gap results from both inadequate public resources and a lack of effective channels to mobilize private resources toward desired outcomes. The public-private partnership (PPP) mechanism has evolved to fill the infrastructure gap. However, PPP projects are often at risk of becoming distressed, or worst, being terminated because of the long-term nature of contracts and the many different stakeholders involved. This paper applies survival-time hazard analysis to estimate how project-related, macroeconomic, and institutional factors affect the hazard rate of the projects. Empirical results show that government’s provision of guarantees, involvement of multilateral development banks, and existence of a dedicated PPP unit are important for a project’s success. Privately initiated proposals should be regulated and undergo competitive bidding to reduce the hazard rate of the project and the corresponding burden to the government. Economic growth leads to successful project outcomes. Improved legal and institutional environment can ensure PPP success.

The objective of this paper is to analyze the impact of infrastructure financing on economic growth in emerging markets through the application of both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. In this study, the research will employ both primary and secondary data to investigate the impact of different structures of infrastructure financing on the performance of the economy through interviews with the stakeholders and policy documents alongside quantitative data from the World Bank and the IMF. The quantitative analysis employs the econometric models to establish the effect of infrastructure investment on the GDP growth of the selected countries, India, China, Brazil, and Nigeria. Additional secondary qualitative data obtained from interviews with policymakers and financial specialists from Brazil, India, and South Africa offer more practical information regarding the efficiency of the discussed financing approaches. This paper is therefore able to conclude that appropriate management of infrastructure investments, particularly those that involve the PPP, are central to the development of the economy. However, certain drawbacks such as the lack of regularity of data and the disparity in the effectiveness of financing instruments by the regions are pointed out. The research provides policy implications to policymakers and investors who wish to finance infrastructure in the emerging economy to enhance economic growth in the long run.