Boosting Economic Development Through Tax Incentives

In Michigan and across the country, tax incentives to spur job development remain a hot button topic, most recently noted by the Ford announcement to put next generation plants in Tennessee. Would key development projects even be on the drawing board without subsidies to support them? Is it appropriate for government – rather than private industry -- to step in and assure targeted private industry growth, especially in a time whether or not we find ourselves battling COVID-19, a recession, or international business conditions depress more natural growth? Is cash assistance, in the short-run, less costly than long-term tax breaks to specific business? Do nonprofit desires to help communities and citizens depress more than assure government effectiveness? IPPSR’s October Public Policy Forum looks for answers to these broad public policy questions.

Panelist Biographical Information

Michael D. LaFaive - Senior Director, Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative, Mackinac Center for Public Policy.
Tim Bartik - Senior Economist, Upjohn Institute for Employment Research
Sarah Reckhow - Associate Professor, Graduate Program Director, American Politics, Public Policy, Department of Political Science, Michigan State University

See the agenda (.pdf)
See panelist biographies (.pdf)