Megaprojects and Risk: An Anatomy of Ambition

by Bent Flyvbjerg , Nils Bruzelius , Werner Rothengatter

• ISBN13: 9780521804202
• ISBN10: 0521804205
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-03-10
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Promoters of multi-billion dollar land-use development megaprojects systematically misinform parliaments, the public and the media in order to get them approved and built. This book not only explores these issues, but suggests practical solutions drawing on theory and scientific evidence from the several hundred projects in twenty nations and five continents. It is of interest to students, scholars, planners, economists, auditors, politicians and concerned citizens.

Table of Contents

List of figures	vi
List of tables	vii
Acknowledgements	viii
1 The megaprojects paradox	1	(10)
2 A calamitous history of cost overrun	11	(11)
3 The demand for megaprojects	22	(10)
4 Substance and spin in megaproject economics	32	(17)
5 Environmental impacts and risks	49	(16)
6 Regional and economic growth effects	65	(8)
7 Dealing with risk	73	(13)
8 Conventional megaproject development	86	(6)
9 Lessons of privatisation	92	(15)
10 Four instruments of accountability	107	(18)
11 Accountable megaproject decision making	125	(11)
12 Beyond the megaprojects paradox	136	(7)
Appendix. Risk and accountability at work: a case study	143	(9)
Notes	152	(28)
Bibliography	180	(21)
Index	201