Cents and Sensibility

Incentives of various types are widely used to encourage and promote “economic development.”  For years, Kansas and Missouri have engaged in a “border war” to attract business.  American Public Square examined the uses and abuses, pluses and minuses of economic development tools.  When is it appropriate to use public dollars to benefit private business?  Who does and should benefit from economic development incentives?  What is effective and what isn’t in creating economic growth in the community?  Are we getting the best return on our dollars?

Panelists

Bill Hall
President
Hall Family Foundation

Dr. Kenneth Thomas
Professor of Political Science
University of Missouri – St. Louis

Michael Farren
Research Fellow in the Project for the Study of American Capitalism
Mercatus Center at George Mason University