This month, the Public Policy Institute of California released a study that describes the economic impacts of the state’s Enterprise Zone program.  Its findings:  “…the program, on average, has no effect on job or business creation.”  That’s a tough break for the California Association for Local Economic Development, whose members proposed expanding the $500 million program to help stimulate the state’s economy.  The study’s conclusions shouldn’t be a surprise, though.  Other studies around the country have found that Enterprise Zone (EZ) programs are poorly managed and often stray from their original intent to incent job and business creation in disadvantaged urban areas.  In the Chicago area, EZ tax credits have actually contributed to greater metropolitan inequality.  New York is in the process of attempting to rein in Empire Zone companies that for years have failed to meet basic program requirements.  A forthcoming Good Jobs First study shows that many companies in two of Ohio’s largest metropolitan areas simply move from zone to zone to reap the benefits of EZ subsidies.

At a time when state and local budgets are stretched to the breaking point, results-oriented economic development should be a priority.  States and cities can make every dollar count by investing in schools, fixing infrastructure, and creating quality workforces.  More tax giveaways won’t generate consumer demand for goods and services – they’ll only further damage budgets.

This entry was posted on June 24, 2009 at 6:20 pm and is filed under Economic Recovery, Enterprise Zones, Jobs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.