Category: Community and Economic Development

Review of Kentucky's Economic Development Incentives

Community and Economic Development, Public Policy and Economic Analysis, Reports

Kentucky’s Legislative Research Commission (LRC) retained Anderson Economic Group (AEG) to study the efficiency, effectiveness, oversight, and reporting requirements of Kentucky’s economic development incentive programs. The purpose of this report was to provide in-depth information on these programs to help policymakers make informed decisions about them in the future.

This project reviewed many aspects of Kentucky’s incentive programs. Notable components include a review the purpose and main requirements of incentives, comparisons to 13 peer states chosen by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development (CED), evaluation of incentive cost and effectiveness, and a review of incentive program reporting requirements and practice in Kentucky and peer states.

We estimated the number of jobs created and maintained by firms in Kentucky receiving incentives for each year between 2001 and 2010. We also estimated the cost of these incentives to the state. We completed these analyses using data provided by the CED, the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet (TAHC), and the Department of Revenue. We were able to compare information firms reported to the CED and data maintained by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in order to independently verify employment at firms receiving incentives.

Our analysis found the following. First, businesses that received Kentucky incentives reported creating 55,173 jobs between 2001 and 2010. This resulted in 33,000 “maintained” jobs per year. We also found no systematic over-reporting by businesses to the CED by verifying self-reported data from the businesses with BLS data. Second, the “gross cost” to the Commonwealth of Kentucky was $140 million in 2010 and averaged $3,330 per job per year between 2001 and 2010. In our effectiveness analysis, we found that approximately 35% of all jobs reported would need to have been directly caused by the incentives for the incentives to be more effective than a broad-based tax reduction. Third, we compared Kentucky to its peer states and found several areas where Kentucky lagged. Our recommendations include ways for Kentucky to improve incentive reporting and evaluation, and ways to encourage growth in knowledge-based industries.

Building a New Bridge in Detroit: A Study Evaluating the Options

Community and Economic Development, Public Policy and Economic Analysis, Reports, Working Papers

The purpose of this paper is to compare the NITC and DIBC propos­als, identifying the key factors affecting policy makers, investors, and taxpayers. To date, public discourse about the options has been hampered due to lack information about the proposals, including project viability, financing, and taxpayer risk.

The Consultants at Anderson Economic Group have completed this study independently in order to provide an unbiased source of information on the topic.

Personal Property Tax Reform in Michigan: The Fiscal and Economic Impact of SB 1065-SB 1072

Community and Economic Development, Other, Public Policy and Economic Analysis, Reports

 

The Economic Impact of ArtPrize 2011

Community and Economic Development, Market and Industry Analysis, Reports

 

Michigan Unplugged? The Case for Shared Investment in Regional Transmission Projects

Community and Economic Development, Energy and Telecommunications, Market and Industry Analysis, Public Policy and Economic Analysis, Reports

Electricity transmission facilities are major investments. They have traditionally been funded by local utilities, with costs allocated across the local users. Improving the grid, however, requires more than a patchwork of locally planned and funded improvements. In the Midwest and other areas of the country, states, utilities, and other stakeholders have agreed to pursue a regional approach to plan and build a more robust grid. As a result, many new transmission projects are now designed to benefit large geographic areas.

Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc. (MISO)—an independent, non-for-profit corporation of grid stakeholders in the Midwest—is responsible for managing and planning this region’s grid. In early 2009, MISO began developing a new cost allocation method to be used specifically for regionally beneficial transmission projects. The approved cost allocation method assigns costs based on load (actual use of electricity), and applies only to a new category of projects called “Multi-Value Projects” (MVPs).

The MISO cost allocation for MVPs, which FERC found to be consistent with the “beneficiary pays” cost allocation principle, is now being challenged by parties that feel it does not assign costs in a way that is commensurate with benefits.

In this report, we assess whether or not the MVP cost allocation methodology is consistent with the legal principle that costs should be “at least roughly commensurate with benefits.” We also consider whether there is any evidence that the approved methodology places an unfair cost burden on Lower Michigan. Finally, we assess the risks and consequences that stem from modifying the structure of the already adopted cost allocation.

The URC's Support for Information and Communication Technology in Michigan

Community and Economic Development, Public Policy and Economic Analysis, Reports

The University Research Corridor (URC) is an alliance of Michigan’s three largest academic institutions: Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, and Wayne State University. The purpose of this alliance is to accelerate economic growth in Michigan by educating students, attracting talented workers, supporting innovation, and facilitating the transfer of technology to the private sector.

This report is part of a series of special topic reports that began in 2007 and are released by the URC in early summer of each year. The purpose of each report is to highlight the URC’s contributions to a specific industry important to Michigan’s economy. This year’s report focuses on how the URC is shaping Michigan’s Information and Communication Technology industry (ICT) through its educational programs, research, and support for entrepreneurs.

We begin this report by developing a rigorous, comprehensive definition of the information and communication technology industry. This industry consists of the study, design, development, implementation, and management of information systems. It focuses on communication technologies, including the Internet, wireless networks, cell phones, and computer-based information systems.