Why building infrastructure is especially hard today

Building infrastructure today is challenging due to societal changes that have led to a lack of focus on construction in countries like the United States, which had a period of intense nation building that has halted since the 80s and 90s. There is a missing sense of societal buy-in and national purpose for infrastructure projects now, which contrasts with the past. Additionally, regulatory processes have been altered to curb past excesses in infrastructure development, which has made the process more complicated. Despite the need for more construction driven by climate and economic factors, the historical context and changing regulations make it difficult to prioritize and execute infrastructure projects effectively.