Reining in the Competition
for Capital

Introductory chapter | Table of Contents

This book explores the causes, character, and potential remedies for the growing spatial competition for capital. Its diverse group of contributors present a broad set of workable reforms including: regulation of site consultants; mandated transparency in negotiations, bids, and deals; better structured deals; performance requirements and clawbacks for subsidized firms; and adoption of united economic development budgets. Included are

• Institutional and Political Determinants of Incentive Competition, Ann Markusen and Katherine Nesse
• The Sources and Processes of Tax and Subsidy Competition, Kenneth P. Thomas
• The Fiscal Consequences of Competition for Capital, Peter Fisher
• How the EU Manages Subsidy Competition, Adinda Sinnaeve
• Solving the Problems of Economic Development Incentives, Timothy J. Bartik
• Negotiating the Ideal Deal: Which Local Governments Have the Most Bargaining Leverage? Rachel Weber
• Do Better Job Creation Subsidies Hold Real Promise for Business Incentive Reformers? William Schweke
• Nine Concrete Ways to Curtail the Economic War among the States, Greg LeRoy.

“This is a must read for those in local and regional planning who want to understand how they can compete effectively. The book is of tremendous value not only for U.S. economic-development planners, but also for those in Europe and other countries with decentralized fiscal systems. I highly recommend it.”

Karen R. Polenske, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

“Ann Markusen has done it again. [This book] is a provocative, comprehensive collection from an impressive range of experts only Markusen could have assembled. It is ideal for a course in economic development policy and well worth reading for practitioners and political leaders. I know of no other source that provides so much information and perspective on this contentious policy issue.”

Andrew M. Isserman, University of Illinois

“Markusen and her coauthors lay out the exorbitant costs, present and future, of out-of-control incentive competition, and provide a toolkit of workable strategies to restrain it. While widespread legislative and policy reforms are needed, our group of 57 mayors and city managers in the Cleveland area has recently pioneered no-poaching and tax revenue sharing agreements which prove that regional cooperation can work. Every state and local leader struggling with this issue should read this book.”

Gary W. Starr, mayor, and Charles Bichara, director of economic development, Middleburg Heights, Ohio

Shopping Cart Operations

For MasterCard/Visa holders, accumulate titles in the Shopping Cart and submit your order electronically.

Shopping Cart Operations

• Add this book to cart
• Review and change cart contents

• Secure checkout