FT story that states "US antipathy to foreign investment in its infrastructure threatens to deprive the country of much-needed capital as a time when state and local governments are struggling with rising deficits."
So warns legendary Felix Rohatyn, famed Lazard banker.
Great quote:
This dislike for foreign ownership is Kafka-esque; much of our country was built on foreign capital.
True enough: we were the rising China of the 19th century and got ahead with tons of foreign direct investment.
Recent polls say Americans are 80% opposed, because, I would surmise, the question is always framed in terms of foreign ownership rather than crumbling infrastructure.
Experts say we ned $2.2T in upgrades and repairs in the next half-decade alone. Meanwhile, lots of cities are pressing ahead with privatization schemes, but even when US financial entities are involved, these efforts have a checkered history.