Infrastructure and knowledge economy

Infrastructure and knowledge economy covers areas such as transport, utilities, energy, construction, the creative industries and the knowledge economy, including information technology.

These are important sectors of the economy because they affect final consumers directly and because they serve UK industry, thereby impacting a wide range of goods and services.

These sectors often have some of the following characteristics:

• large investments in assets with long lifespans, for example major land redevelopments
• high levels of risk associated with investment, for example investment in design and intellectual property
• natural monopolies, for example utilities
• consumption by one person affects another person, for example internet auction sites
• consumption by one person does not reduce the amount available for another person, for example music
• government involvement, for example procurement
• fast-moving industries

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