The big news about GE moving to Boston is more than just a story about a large company moving from the suburbs to the big city—it's also about how far cities will go to attract new jobs, and at what cost.
"GE got a pretty good deal on their new, Boston home," writes Evan Horowitz.
Although Horowitz mentions Boston's charms—both of location and population—the point here is offer critical analysis of the massive tax breaks the company received to change locations. The details of the deal to bring the company to Boston include, according to Horowitz, "up to $25 million in property tax breaks, as much as $120 million for infrastructure to support the creation of a new corporate campus, and perhaps another $125 million to upgrade nearby roads and bridges."
The article then explains, point-by-point, the policy debate over the effectiveness of luring businesses between states with such lucrative incentives. One of the article's clear messages is not to overplay the importance of this deal to bring 800 employees to a Massachusetts economy that created 6,000 jobs a month in 2015:
Good or bad, though, it’s important to recognize that the GE deal is teeny, a small move in the broader game of economic development. GE’s arrival isn’t to going transform Massachusetts, and the tax incentives will barely make a ripple in the nearly $40 billion state budget.
FULL STORY: Are incentives like those for GE effective in building an economy?
Georgia Offers Massive Incentive Package to EV Manufacturer
Critics question the wisdom of giving Georgia's largest-ever incentive package to electric car manufacturer Rivian to secure a new factory and job training center in East Atlanta.
GE and Industry's Return to the City
GE recently made the blockbuster decision to move its corporate headquarters to Boston. More than just another example of a company returning to an urban area, the move shows how a city like Boston benefits the kind of company GE wants to become.
Study: Job-Poaching Tax Incentives Do More Harm than Good
Nathan Jensen, a political science professor at Washington University in St. Louis, has found evidence that one of the most popular strategies for state and local leaders to attract new business does not pay off.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?
The Five Most-Changed American Cities
A ranking of population change, home values, and jobs highlights the nation’s most dynamic and most stagnant regions.
San Diego Adopts First Mobility Master Plan
The plan provides a comprehensive framework for making San Diego’s transportation network more multimodal, accessible, and sustainable.
Housing, Supportive Service Providers Brace for Federal Cuts
Organizations that provide housing assistance are tightening their purse strings and making plans for maintaining operations if federal funding dries up.
Op-Ed: Why an Effective Passenger Rail Network Needs Government Involvement
An outdated rail network that privileges freight won’t be fixed by privatizing Amtrak.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions