Accountability

Danny Bigel, Founder

An interesting article to frame this discussion:

https://ctmirror.org/2020/02/19/pew-ct-leads-most-states-at-ensuring-good-return-on-business-incentives/

Obviously, if you’re a reader of this blog you’ll know that I like to bring to light the greater conversation regarding C&I. First and foremost, I have to say that PEW does an incredible job at monitoring and reporting to the public - truly an exemplary outlet. What I think when I read this article is that it’s fascinating to track the way that states are monitoring their programs. And I agree 1000% that evaluation of economic impact must be part and parcel with all programs (although I do think that most evaluative models fail to account for the incredible ancillary and multiplicative value of most C&I particularly when it comes to local economic impact.) The public as a singular entity is ill served by rudimentary public hearings as the major vehicle to discuss the complexities of C&I. In the end, we need to get a full accounting of the real benefit of C&I programs, then we need to boost the programs that work and shut down the ones that don’t. To go further than that I believe is to use C&I as a vehicle to have a greater discussion about macroeconomic theory that is simply not at play.