Accountable Economic Development

Tracking Subsidies from Government

Good Jobs First released The Policy Shift to Good Jobs which shows that at least 43 states, 41 cities, and 5 counties now attach job quality standards to at least one subsidy program. The 89 jurisdictions with standards are a 35% increase since 2000, and the 165 job quality precedents are a 72% increase.

No More Secret Candy Store:  A Grassroots Guide to Investigating Development Subsidies by Good Jobs First (2002)
A comprehensive guide to researching state and local subsidies, economic development agencies, and companies. 

The Iowa Policy Project found tax laws and ‘loopholes’ benefiting large corporations are costing state government nearly $100 million annually.  The report is entitled  "Everything You Wanted to Know About Closing Tax Loopholes ... But Were Afraid to Ask".

Get Something Back! How Civic Engagement is Raising Economic Development Expectations in Minnesotaby Anne Nolan and Greg LeRoy (2003)

A review of events since Minnesota enacted its first-in-the-nation economic development accountability law in 1995 finds that the law is a major factor contributing to an increase in civic engagement in economic development issues.

Straying from Good Intentions: How States are Weakening Enterprise Zone and Tax Increment Financing Programs  by Alyssa Talanker and Kate Davis (2003)

This report examines legislative changes to two geographically targeted economic development programs: tax increment financing (TIF) and enterprise zones.  It asks the question:  Have laws governing these programs been weakened to permit the use of these programs in non-blighted or affluent areas?  In virtually every state that has weakened its TIF or enterprise zone program, the answer is "Yes."

Protecting Public Education from Tax Giveaways to Corporations by Kate Davis (2003)

This report, released in conjunction with the National Education Association, examines the impact of property tax based subsidies on school revenues and the role that school boards have in the economic development process.

A Better Deal for Illinois: Improving Economic Development Policy by Jeff McCourt and Greg LeRoy (2003)

This report includes a 25-year historical narrative on the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, an analysis of the EDGE Tax Credit and Single Sales Factor subsidies, and five case studies on company-specific deals.

Economic Development in Washington DC 

by Alyssa Talanker and Kate Davis (2002)
An analysis of 13 major economic development deals subsidized by the District of Columbia reveals a lack of safeguards to ensure the projects pay off for taxpayers, workers and communities.

In Search of the Great Pumpkin: Economic Development Accountability in North Dakota  by Anne Nolan and Greg Leroy (2002)   
This broad review reveals that North Dakotans are being asked to take it on faith that economic development subsidies are producing results.  

Subsidizing the Low Road: Economic Development in Baltimore 

by Kate Davis and Chauna Brocht (2002)
An analysis of Baltimore’s economic development efforts reveals a history of high costs, low benefits, and a lack of safeguards to ensure that taxpayer investments really pay off in family-wage jobs.

Community Benefits Agreements: Making Development Projects Accountable   

by Good Jobs First and the California Public Subsidies Project (2002)  
This report offers a new model for economic development reform.  Community Benefit Agreements (CBAs) are project-specific contracts between developers and community organizations that help ensure that local community residents share in the benefits of major developments.  

Jail Breaks: Economic Development Subsidies Given to Private Prisonsby Phil Mattera and Mafruza Khan (2001).   The first study to catalog state and local economic development subsidies given to private prisons. 

Talking to Union Leaders About Smart Growthby Greg LeRoy (2001) 
A hands-on tool to help smart growth activists reach out to union leaders based on working-families' self-interest.

Minding the Candy Store: State Audits of Economic Development

by Sara Hinkley and Fiona Hsu (2000).   A comprehensive summary and database of 122 state performance audits of economic development programs of the last decade.

Economic Development in Minnesota: High Subsidies, Low Wages, Absent Standardsby Greg LeRoy and Tyson Slocum (1999).  An analysis of 525 economic development deals made possible by Minnesota’s first-in-the-nation subsidy disclosure law, which found almost half the subsidized companies paying 20% or more below-market wages.

Kentucky's Low Road to Economic Development: What Corporate Subsidies Are Doing to the Commonwealthby the Democracy Resource Center and Kentucky Economic Justice Alliance (2000)

Connecticut's Development Subsidies: Job Growth Far Short of Projections, High Costs Per Jobby Northeast Action (2002)

Economic Development Subsidies in Maine: Maine's Economic Development Subsidies in 1998-99: Tax Credits Yield Few New Jobs at High Cost Per Job by the Northeast Action (2001)

The Sector Solution: Building a Broad Base for the New Economy
From the Center for an Urban Future (2001)

The Hudson River area has a long history of taxpayer-subsidized job piracy, job blackmail threats, and eight-figure "retention" deals. New Jersey Policy Perspective recently released the first comprehensive report on business incentives in New Jersey: "Taking Care of Business: Does it Cost Too Much?"  

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