Mi Teleférico Through the Lens of Infrastructure Policy

To truly understand Mi Teleférico, it is necessary to understand it at its most basic core: as an incredible infrastructure advancement. During an interview, Professor Carlos Machicado, tenured professor at the Catholic University of Bolivia and experienced macroeconomic specialist, explained the importance of understanding the economic benefits of Mi Teleférico by thinking of it as any other kind of infrastructure. 

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To start, Machicado explained how any infrastructure can be economically and socially valuable to a society. Once built, infrastructure becomes something called physical capital to its users. Physical capital is a tangible, human made asset that can create goods or services. It essentially allows people and businesses to become more productive. Machicado explained that Mi Teleférico fits this definition because it allows thousands of workers to spend less time commuting and more time working or engaging in other productive activities.

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Then, Machicado made an important distinction: good infrastructure isn't always just more infrastructure. He explained that although Bolivia has expanded its transportation network considerably, many projects still suffer from poor durability, inadequate construction, and insufficient maintenance. However, Mi Teleférico stands out because of its high engineering standards, regular maintenance, and long term quality and consistency. 

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Additionally, Machicado agreed with others that Mi Teleférico is perfectly suited to the conditions of La Paz and El Alto. Sometimes, infrastructure can be unsuccessful if it is not tailored geographically to the environment. But Mi Teleférico works to efficiently connect two disparate areas. 

 

Machicado then explained how transportation infrastructure should be a system, not simply a collection of individual projects. In agreement with Morales and others, he noted that even an excellent transportation project cannot reach its full potential if the rest of the transportation network remains fragmented. In La Paz, there are still a number of different transportation systems that are not unified. Machicado believes that the path towards even more effective and productive physical capital lies in the integration of the various systems of transportation in La Paz and El Alto, starting with the coordination and inclusion of the PumaKatari bus system. 

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However, he also recognized the complexities of integrating transportation, considering the fragmented minibus taxi system, union control, and inefficient regulation. He argued that the first step towards integration would be in the form of institutional reform that could focus on formalizing the various systems of transportation within the area. To end the interview, Machicado argued that instead of more infrastructure, sometimes, better transportation planning can be more beneficial. He emphasized the importance of roads, buses, airports, and water infrastructure, but also noted that the importance of each varies heavily depending on the region – different cities require different infrastructure policies. 

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Throughout our conversation, Professor Machicado emphasized that successful infrastructure is not defined simply by its size or cost, but by its ability to improve productivity, withstand the test of time, and function as part of a larger transportation network. In his view, Mi Teleférico succeeds because it addresses the unique geographic challenges of La Paz, was well constructed, and was the product of long-term planning. At the same time, he argued that the future of urban mobility in Bolivia depends not only on expanding infrastructure, but also on integrating existing transportation systems into a more efficient whole.