Ten Principles for State Tax Incentives

Abstract

The use of tax incentives for economic development is growing among states. This growth is partially caused by a response to new incentives of neighboring states, and similar incentive laws are passed in the interest of remaining competitive. As a result, many states have adopted tax incentives not well founded on economic theory or empirical evidence. This article draws on the latter to develop ten principles that states can employ to enhance the fairness and effectiveness of tax incentives. To illustrate their application, the principles are used to evaluate the state of Georgia's incentive programs.