Public Capital

Public Capital

Public Capital Jonathan Poland

Public capital refers to the physical and intangible assets owned and managed by the government for the benefit of society. These assets can include infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and public buildings, as well as natural resources such as parks and forests. Public capital also includes intangible assets such as the legal and regulatory framework, as well as the knowledge and expertise of public sector employees.

Public capital plays a vital role in supporting economic growth and development, as it provides the infrastructure and resources necessary for businesses and individuals to thrive. It can also contribute to social and environmental outcomes, such as improving access to education and healthcare, and protecting natural resources.

However, the level and quality of public capital can vary significantly across countries and regions. Governments must carefully balance the need to invest in public capital with the need to maintain fiscal sustainability. This can be challenging, as the benefits of public capital may not always be immediate or easily quantifiable, and there may be competing priorities for public resources.

In summary, public capital is an important component of a country’s overall capital stock, and plays a vital role in supporting economic growth and development, as well as social and environmental outcomes. Governments must carefully consider the investments needed to maintain and enhance public capital, in order to support the long-term well-being of their citizens and societies. The following are common types of public capital with examples of each.

Transportation Infrastructure
Infrastructure for moving people and goods.

  • Airports
  • Roads
  • Streets
  • Train Stations

Healthcare
It is very common for developed countries to provide universal public healthcare for free such that governments commonly own most of their healthcare system.

  • Clinical Lab
  • Clinics
  • Hospitals
  • Long-Term Care Facility

Education
Institutions that provide education, often for free or low cost.

  • Colleges
  • K-12 Schools
  • Training Programs
  • Universities

Justice
The criminal justice system.

  • Courts
  • Police
  • Prisons
  • Rehabilitation Programs

Safety Infrastructure
Hard and soft infrastructure that improves public safety.

  • Consumer Safety
  • Firefighting
  • Transportation Safety
  • Ambulances

Public Space
Public space is mostly natural capital such as land but includes services and land improvements that are public capital.

  • Beaches
  • City Parks
  • National Parks
  • Streets

Utilities
Utilities are basic services that are critical to quality of life. These are often owned by a government or heavily regulated to prevent monopolies from undermining the competitiveness and quality of life of a nation.

  • Electricity
  • Internet Access
  • Telephone
  • Water

Arts & Culture
Arts and culture programs and facilities.

  • Artifacts of Heritage
  • Historical Buildings
  • Museums
  • Performance Venues

Sports & Recreation
Places for international, national or community sports and recreation.

  • Arenas
  • Ice Rinks
  • Sports Infrastructure
  • Stadiums

Research
Research and development facilities and programs.

  • Labs
  • Science Infrastructure
  • Science Programs
  • Space Programs

Other
Any capital used by a government to provide its services is public capital. For example:

  • Energy Infrastructure
  • Government Buildings
  • IT Infrastructure
  • Waste Management Facilities
Learn More
Sustainable Materials Jonathan Poland

Sustainable Materials

Sustainable materials are materials that have a relatively positive impact on communities and the environment when used in the construction…

Test Marketing Jonathan Poland

Test Marketing

Test marketing involves testing different marketing strategies or variations on customers in order to gather data and evaluate their effectiveness.…

What is a Capitalist? Jonathan Poland

What is a Capitalist?

A capitalist is an individual who supports or practices capitalism, which is an economic system based on the principles of…

Fixed Assets Jonathan Poland

Fixed Assets

Fixed assets are long-term resources that are owned by a business and are used to generate future economic benefits. In…

Blockchain Jonathan Poland

Blockchain

Blockchain is a type of distributed database that allows multiple parties to store, share, and access data in a secure…

Management Levels Jonathan Poland

Management Levels

A management level is a layer of accountability and responsibility in an organization. It is common for organizations to have…

Risk Management Jonathan Poland

Risk Management

Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing, and prioritizing risks in order to minimize their potential impact on an…

Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Poland

Chief Executive Officer

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the top administrator of an organization, responsible for its overall performance. The CEO typically…

Technology Factors Jonathan Poland

Technology Factors

Technology factors are any external changes related to technology that may affect an organization’s strategy. Identifying and analyzing technology factors…

Content Database

Search over 1,000 posts on topics across
business, finance, and capital markets.

What is Competitive Parity? Jonathan Poland

What is Competitive Parity?

Competitive parity is a marketing strategy that involves matching or aligning a company’s marketing mix with that of its competitors.…

Comparative Risk Jonathan Poland

Comparative Risk

Comparative risk is a method of evaluating and comparing the potential impacts and likelihood of different risks. It is used…

Reputational Risk Jonathan Poland

Reputational Risk

Reputational risk refers to the potential for damage to an organization’s reputation as a result of its actions or inactions.…

Legal Risk Jonathan Poland

Legal Risk

Legal risk is the risk of financial loss or other negative consequences that may arise from legal action or non-compliance…

Phased Implementation Jonathan Poland

Phased Implementation

Phased implementation is a method of developing and introducing a business, brand, product, service, process, capability, or system by dividing…

Visual Branding Jonathan Poland

Visual Branding

Visual branding is the use of visual elements, such as color, typography, imagery, and design, to create a cohesive and…

Competitive Differentiation Jonathan Poland

Competitive Differentiation

Competitive differentiation refers to the unique value that a company’s product, service, brand, or experience offers in comparison to all…

Quality Objectives Jonathan Poland

Quality Objectives

Quality objectives are specific, measurable targets that organizations set in order to improve the quality of their products or services.…

Early Adopters Jonathan Poland

Early Adopters

Early adopters are individuals who quickly adopt an innovation. Marketing and selling innovative products can be challenging as it may…