Menard Speaker Series: Can Taxes Buy Growth? Economic Development Incentives
Presented by the Institute for the Study of Political Economy (ISPE)
Monday, April 10, 5 p.m. • Whitinger Business 144 (WB 144)
Gary Wagner, PhD • Acadiana Business Economist Endowed Chair at University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Local and state governments spend tens of billions of dollars on economic development incentives. Taxpayers are promised that these incentives will create jobs, strengthen local industry, and improve their communities. But is this true? Or are the only measurable benefits those received by politicians (as increased popularity and campaign donations)? If incentives are ineffective, why do they remain so popular?
Dr. Gary Wagner is Acadiana Business Economist Endowed Chair at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Prior to joining UL, Wagner was VP of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland. Dr. Wagner is an expert on public finance, and has authored or co-authored more than 60 professional articles.
The Institute for the Study of Political Economy (ISPE) at BSU seeks to further our understanding of market, political, and social processes and institutions.