InfraPOD
07 | Liberalisation
06 | Privatisation
05 | The Internet
04 | Spatial (In)Justice
03 | Energy Transition
02 | History of the energy system
01 | What is infrastructure?
by Nadine Schröder & Laurenz Peters
In this episode we talk about liberalisation, one of the central reform movements in infrastructure governance during the last 30 years. We discuss the liberalisation of the electricity and telecommunication sectors in Germany, which is also intertwined with a larger movement on the EU level. References Bieling, H.-J. (2008). Liberalisierung und Privatisierung in Deutschland: Versuch einer Zwischenbilanz. WSI Mitteilungen 10/2008. https://www.wsi.de/data/wsimit_2008_10_bieling.pdf Dewenter, Ralf; Haucap, Justus (2004) : Die Liberalisierung der Telekommunikationsbranche in Deutschland, Diskussionspapier, No. 27, https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/23614/1/paper_27.pdf Serrallés, R. J. (2006). Electric energy restructuring in the European Union: Integration, subsidiarity and the challenge of harmonization. Energy Policy. Volume 34, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2004.08.041 Science Direct Summary "Competitive Market": https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/economics-econometrics-and-finance/competitive-market Natural monopoly definition: https://www.unescwa.org/sd-glossary/natural-monopoly
In the context of neoliberal reforms privatization is often presented as a way to make infrastructure service delivery more efficient and cost-effective. In this episode we try to give a strutured overview of potential avantages and disadvantages of both public and private service provision. We also discuss why public-private-partnerships are so popular and what are the challenges in the negotiation of such contracts. References Buse, K. & Bayliss, K. (2022). England's privatised water: profits over people and planet. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o2076 Castro, R. (2024). Regulation of Natural Monopolies. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-55251-9_6 Deutscher Bundestag. (2024). Daseinsvorsorge. Begriff und Rechtsgrundlagen. https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/1013810/b600c65d9eff3e5f3eef1214a957ed04/WD-3-059-24-pdf.pdf Devkar, G. A., Mahalingam, A., Deep, A., Thillairajan, A. (2013). Impact of Private Sector Participation on access and quality in provision of electricity, telecom and water services in developing countries: A systematic review, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jup.2013.08.002. European Commission. Services of general interest. https://commission.europa.eu/topics/single-market/services-general-interest_en Fabre, A. & Straub, S.. (2023). The Impact of Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Infrastructure, Health, and Education. https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/jel.20211607 Fukuyama, F. (2016). Governance: What Do We Know, and How Do We Know It?. Annual Review Political Science. 19:89-105. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-042214-044240 Glaeser, E.L. & Poterba, J.M. (2020). Economic Analysis and Infrastructure Investement. https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w28215/w28215.pdf Gupta, S., & Sharma, A. K. (2022). Evolution of infrastructure as an asset class: A systematic literature review and thematic analysis. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41260-022-00255-3 Hartnett, M. (2026). Market Failure: Natural Monopoly. https://www.sciotoanalysis.com/news/market-failure-natural-monopoly Romero, M., Sandefur, J., Sandholtz, W.A. (2020). Outsourcing Education: Experimental Evidence from Liberia. https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.20181478&&from=f
The internet is the fastest growing infrastructures in the world and while it already shapes our everyday life, it's impact will still grow in the future. In this episode we try to give you a basic understanding of how the internet works and how it may be different from other large networked systems. References General https://www.cloudflare.com/de-de/learning/network-layer/how-does-the-internet-work/ Video makes up ~80% of online traffic: https://www.demandsage.com/video-marketing-statistics/ Complaint against Telekom AG regarding unequal treatment of different users/service: https://freiheitsrechte.org/ueber-die-gff/presse/pressemitteilungen-der-gesellschaft-fur-freiheitsrechte/pm-netzneutralit%C3%A4t International competition and private companies in submarine cable Installation: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/us-china-tech-subcom/ Explore further Submarine Cable Map: https://www.submarinecablemap.com/ready-for-service/2003 Check your IP location: https://www.iplocation.net/#google_vignette Check your network: https://www.peeringdb.com/net/572 Mapa of the Internet: https://learninglink.oup.com/access/content/schaller-3e-dashboard-resources/image-map-of-the-internet-20031513285356511
In this episode we explore the concept of spatial justice and establish additional terminology to better understand and analyze related phenomena. We hope that this allows you to better recognize and describe instances of spatial injustice in your environment. References Theoretical Framework Collin Yarbrough & Janille Smith-Colin (18 Nov 2025): Infrastructure (in)Justice: a multi-scalar framework and review of epistemic, restorative, and reparative justice dimensions, Transport Reviews, DOI: 10.1080/01441647.2025.2585037 Case Studies Brackel, L., Boelens, R., Bruins, B., Doorn, N., & Pesch, U. (2023). People in PowerPoint pixels: Competing justice claims and scalar politics in water development planning. Political Geography, 107, 102974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2023.102974 ⇒ Cool theoretical information Kimble, M. (2024). City Limits: Infrastructure, Inequality, and the Future of America’s Highways. Crown, 368 pages. Smeds, E., Robin, E., & McArthur, J. (2020). Night-time mobilities and (in)justice in London: Constructing mobile subjects and the politics of difference in policy-making. Journal of Transport Geography, 82, 102569. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2019.102569 U.S. Government Accountability Office (2024). https://www.gao.gov/blog/funding-and-programs-meant-help-tribes-may-not-be-reaching-them
In this episode we are looking at theories about technological innovation to better understand the currently ongoing transition of our energy system. We discuss relevant components of the new energy system, political drivers and barriers, and hypothesize about what our energy system might look like in the future. References AG Energiebilanzen e.V. (2025). Energy consumption in Germany in 2024. Available at: https://ag-energiebilanzen.de/wp-content/uploads/AGEB_Jahresbericht2024_20250815_en.pdf Meyer, T. (2024) Strom. Über Nostalgie, Zukunft und warum der Markt längst entschieden hat. ISBN: 9 783 769 351224 Innovation Curves Rogers, E.M. (2003) Diffusion of Innovations, 5th Edition. Free Press, New York. Howaldt, J., Kopp, R., Schwarz, M. (2025). Diffusion of Innovation. In: Schulz-Schaeffer, I., Windeler, A., Blättel-Mink, B. (eds) Handbook of Innovation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25143-6_33-1 Foster, R.N. (1986) Innovation. Die technologische Offensive. 1st edition. Gabler Verlag Wiesbaden. Multi-Level Perspective Geels, Frank. (2024). The Multi-Level Perspective on Sustainability Transitions: Background, overview, and current research topics. 10.33774/coe-2024-c15gb. Learning curves (incl. Graphic) Roser, M. (2023) Learning curves: What does it mean for a technology to follow Wright's Law? Published online at OurWorldinData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://archive.ourworldindata.org/20251125-173858/learning-curve.html' Current state of the energy transition Brucksch, J., Figgener, J., Hecht, C., Sauer, D.W. (2026) Germany adds 6.57 GWh of battery storage capacity in 2025, total capacity hits 24 GWh. https://www.ess-news.com/2026/01/09/germany-adds-6-57-gwh-of-battery-storage-capacity-in-2025-total-capacity-hits-24-gwh/ Deshaies, M. (2026). The German Energiewende: A Green Deal Template or Planned Failure?. In: Henrekson, M., Sandström, C., Stenkula, M. (eds) A Green Entrepreneurial State?. International Studies in Entrepreneurship, vol 49. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-15512-2_7 IIGCC (2025). Policy Briefing: EU CO2 emission performance standards for new passenger cars and vans. https://www.iigcc.org/insights/policy-briefing-eu-co2-emission-performance-standards-for-new-passenger-cars-and-vans?utm_source=chatgpt.com Schill, W.-P., Aichner, N. & Roth, A. (2026) Favorable conditions allow accelearting the renewable energy transition. DIW Weekly Report 3|2026. https://www.diw.de/documents/publikationen/73/diw_01.c.994726.de/dwr-26-03.pdf
In this episode we are retracing the historic development of the energy systems since earliest civilizations. Our use of energy has always been interrelated with human development, innovation, and progress. By learning about how the energy system has developed alongside human societies, we want to give you some context for the upcoming transition towards decarbonized energy systems. Main reference Rutter, P. & Keirstead, J. (2012). A brief history and the possible future of urban energy systems. Energy Policy. Volume 50. Pages 72-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2012.03.072 Additional references Syvitski et al. (2020). Extraordinary human energy consumption and resultant geological impacts beginning around 1950 CE initiated the proposed Anthropocene Epoch. Communications Earth & Environment. Volume 1, Article number: 32. https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-020-00029-y Fizaine, F. & Court, V. (2016). Energy expenditure, economic growth, and the minimum EROI of society. Energy Policy. Volume 95. Pages 172–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.04.039
What is “infrastructure”? Is it limited to roads, bridges, and energy systems or does it extend to ecosystems, care work, and social institutions? In this opening episode we interrogate the concept of infrastructure from different perspectives. Moving beyond conventional definitions, we explore infrastructure as a system that is not only physical but also relational, institutional, and deeply embedded in human life. Drawing on insights from systems theory, anthropology, and political economy, we discussion the expanding scope of infrastructure to include green (natural) systems and social reproduction processes. References Larkin, B. (2013). The politics and poetics of infrastructure. Annual Review of Anthropology, 42, 327–343. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-anthro-092412-155522 Kanoi, L., Koh, V., Lim, A., Yamada, S., & Dove, M. R. (2022). What is infrastructure? What does it do? Anthropological perspectives on the workings of infrastructure(s). Environmental Research: Infrastructure and Sustainability, 2(1), 012002. https://doi.org/10.1088/2634-4505/ac4429 Silva, J. M. C. da, & Wheeler, E. (2017). Ecosystems as infrastructure. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, 15(1), 32–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2016.11.005 O'Sullivan, K.C., Olin, C.V., Pierse, N., Howden-Chapman, P. (2023). Housing: the key infrastructure to achieving health & wellbeing in urban environments. Oxford Open Infrastructure and Helath, Volume 1, 2023, ouad001, https://doi.org/10.1093/ooih/ouad001 Claims Unpaid care work in the UK is valued at 1 trillion GBP: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/03/british-people-do-more-than-1-trillion-of-housework-each-year-unpaid
In this episode we give a brief overview of what we will cover in the podcast. If you have questions or feedback, please direct them to: nadine.schroeder@tu-darmstadt.de