Book chapter
Selling life-cycle concepts within the political system
Advances in Bridge Maintenance, Safety Management, and Life-Cycle Performance, Set of Book & CD-ROM, pp 427-428
2006
Abstract
The basis of all political systems is retention of power for those in office. This is
true for democratic, representative, royal and autocratic systems. Public perception of service to the
public at large, or at least those with influence, enhances this goal in the political system. Because
people tend to value immediate returns, the concept of optimal design selection based on life cycle
cost analysis is fundamentally at odds, therefore, with political systems. Instead, producing the
most immediate benefit for the least cost is a natural inclination for those with political power when
designing public infrastructure such as bridges, transportation and other networks. To some extent,
the same is true in the private sector, where the customer desires the highest immediate return for
investment. Recognizing this conflict and developing procedures to enhance the acceptability of life
cycle costing will result in increased acceptance and use of this clearly optimal method for society.
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Details
- Title
- Selling life-cycle concepts within the political system
- Creators
- Ahmet Emin Aktan - [Retired Faculty]
- Contributors
- Paulo J. da Sousa Cruz (Editor)Dan M. Frangopol (Editor)Luis C. Canhoto Neves (Editor)
- Publication Details
- Advances in Bridge Maintenance, Safety Management, and Life-Cycle Performance, Set of Book & CD-ROM, pp 427-428
- Publisher
- CRC Press
- Resource Type
- Book chapter
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- [Retired Faculty]
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-56749169831
- Other Identifier
- 991019174911804721