Opinion
No one should miss Cooper’s misuse of ‘giveaway’
With Gov. Roy Cooper set to leave office at the end of the year, perhaps we'll hear more honesty from the Executive Mansion about tax rate cuts and targeted incentives.
Opinion
NCInnovation would be just more crony capitalism
A provision included in the Senate budget proposal would direct $1.4 billion in taxpayer funds to a project to subsidize select private businesses. NCInnovation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the amount of university research being commercialized by North Carolina companies. According to their research, North Carolina ranks 20th in the country in...
Opinion
Greensboro parking deck battle has larger political implications
GREENSBORO —Who would think that building parking decks — those generic, innocuous concrete and steel structures where we leave our cars for a few hours while we pursue work and leisure — would have strong political implications? As a 30-year resident, I would say “only in Greensboro,” though most cities probably face complicated parking issues...
Opinion
Clear up confusion about corporate tax ‘giveaways’
The governor decries them while his administration hands them out.
Opinion
Focus on growth, not development
North Carolina should abandon economic development policy and completely refocus on economic growth. These are distinctly different goals that more often than not conflict with each other. Most policies meant to promote economic development create economic inefficiencies and therefore hinder economic growth. For decades North Carolina has been pursuing “economic development policy.” Indeed, the N.C....
Opinion
New Markets Tax Credit Signals Wrong Turn
Like a recovering addict on the verge of a major binge, some North Carolina lawmakers are on the brink of falling back into the black hole of tax credits. Rather than serving as a national model for tax and regulatory reform, North Carolina risks becoming, again, a national leader in crony capitalism. Senate Bill 826,...
Opinion
Time to dump economic development policy
North Carolina should abandon what it has been referring to for years as economic development policy and completely refocus its efforts in the area of economic policy on economic growth. These are distinctly different goals that more often than not come into conflict with each other. Most policies meant to promote economic development create economic...
Opinion
New Market Tax Credit Provision Would Enable Crony Capitalism
Like a recovering addict on the verge of a major binge, some North Carolina lawmakers are on the brink of falling back into the black hole of tax credits. Rather than serving as a national model for tax and regulatory reform, North Carolina risks becoming, again, a national leader in crony capitalism. Triggering this addictive...
Opinion
Poll Pushes Renewable Energy Cronyism
Delve into the details, and you'll find that an industry-led survey falls far short of the mark.
Opinion
Detailing Solar Companies’ Dependence on Handouts
An industry dependent on incentives, giveaways, and mandates does not offer an economic success story.
Opinion
Counting Costs of Crony Shenanigans
It’s hard to assess the economic impact of policy changes when they’re intertwined in a convoluted set of intertwined proposals.
Opinion
Taken for a Ride
From 2007 to 2012, Charlotte’s population grew by 17 percent and the metro as a whole grew by 13 percent. But rail-transit boardings grew by only 5 percent.
