Planned government investment in infrastructure projects in the United States and Europe will boost the economy in the coming years. Euler-Hermes, the world’s largest credit insurance company, reported this on the basis of research.
In both the United States and Europe, public investment in infrastructure is rising for the first time in a decade. In the United States, investments in roads, bridges, railways, ports, airports, electrical installations and the Internet will rise to 2.3 percent of GDP in 2030. In Europe, the duration of investments is shorter. In Germany, the eurozone’s largest economy, investment will rise to more than 1 percent of GDP in 2027 and in France to 2.5 percent.
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Investments will increase US GDP by 0.9 percentage points over the next three years. In Europe, the impact will be greater in Spain and smaller in Germany, where GDP will grow by 0.9 and 0.35 percentage points, respectively.
low carbon economy
An important additional effect is that investments in sustainable infrastructure are financing the transition to a low carbon economy. According to Johan Geeroms, director of Benelux risk management at Euler Hermes, investments in associated infrastructure are “indispensable” in the transition to zero-emissions energy. For example, Jeromes mentions investments in additional grid capacity to meet rising electricity demand.
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According to Geeroms, government investments also have an important signaling function. “It inspires confidence in the future and thus also stimulates private investment.” According to Euler Hermes’ research department, current infrastructure plans will attract up to $100 billion in US private capital annually through 2025. In Europe, this varies from country to country. In France, for example, it is about 50 billion euros and in Germany 10 billion euros.
energy conversion costs
However, government and private sector investments are not sufficient to pay for the energy transition. Euler Hermes estimates that the United States falls $210 billion annually from achieving its intended goals. The annual investment gap for the four largest European economies is estimated at around 140 billion euros.
