IMPORTANT INFRASRTRUCTURE SECTORS

IMPORTANT INFRASRTRUCTURE SECTORS

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Infrastructure is an important aspect of any society as it supports development and stability by having a direct impact on the personal, economic and political health of the civilization. Many analysts argue that poor infrastructure affects the economic and social growth of a nation, while also leading to the loss of lives. For this reason, infrastructure within a country is not just a healthy investment but also an economic and social necessity[1]. The World Bank identifies four key infrastructure sectors that are vital to the development and progress of any society. The sectors are energy, information and communication technologies, transport and water[2]. Alternatively, the department of Homeland Security identifies sixteen different sectors that it considers critical to the continued success of the United States. They include the chemical, commercial facilities, communications, manufacturing, dams, defense industrial, emergency services, energy, financial services, food and agriculture, government facilities, healthcare, information technology, nuclear, transportation and water sectors[3].

Energy, transport and communication technologies are the three most important infrastructure sectors for any society. This is because many analysts argue that the three sectors combined form the backbone of society and support the development and expansion of other infrastructure sectors. According to the World Bank, the energy sector is critical to the development of the world and eradication of critical problems such as poverty and conflict[4]. Similarly, the transport sector is critical to the development and sustenance of society, mostly because it enables the ferrying and movement of people and goods. Lastly, the information and communication technologies sector plays a key role in society because of the importance of disseminating information. According to the World Bank, the information and communications sector is a significant driving force behind the success of any society[5].

Bibliography

Bourguignon, François, and Boris Pleskovic. Growth and Integration: [17th Annual World Bank Conference on Development Economics, Held in Dakar, Senegal, January 27 – 28, 2005]. Washington, DC: World Bank, 2006.

Department of Homeland Security. “Critical Infrastructure Sectors.” Dhs.gov. Accessed January 23, 2014, http://www.dhs.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors.

The World Bank Group. “Infrastructure.” WorldBank.org. 2011. http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTINFRA/0,,contentMDK:23140138~menuPK:8497216~pagePK:64168445~piPK:64168309~theSitePK:8430730,00.html.

[1]  Francois Bourguignon and Boris Pleskovic, Growth and Integration: [17th Annual World Bank Conference on Development Economics, Held in Dakar, Senegal, January 27 – 28, 2005] (Washington D.C.: World Bank, 2006), 2.

[2]  The World Bank Group, “Infrastructure,” WorldBank.org, last modified 2011, http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTINFRA/0,,contentMDK:23140138~menuPK:8497216~pagePK:64168445~piPK:64168309~theSitePK:8430730,00.html

[3]  Department of Homeland Security, “Critical Infrastructure Sectors,” dhs.gov, accessed January 23 2014, http://www.dhs.gov/critical-infrastructure-sectors

[4]  The World Bank Group, “Infrastructure,” WorldBank.org, 2011, http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTINFRA/0,,contentMDK:23140138~menuPK:8497216~pagePK:64168445~piPK:64168309~theSitePK:8430730,00.html

[5]  Ibid.