Economic Development

Movie Made in Israel Gets Michigan Tax Dollars

More corporate welfare for Big Hollywood

More corporate welfare for Big Hollywood. … more

Stop Giving Tax Dollars to Hollywood

Corporate welfare for movies is "economically foolish." … more

Why Film Subsidies Must Go

Independent studies show Hollywood corporate welfare a bust

Independent studies show Hollywood corporate welfare a bust. … more

House Budget Puts Roads Above Film Subsidies

Some Republicans protecting Big Hollywood corporate welfare

But some Republicans want to protect corporate welfare. … more

Paul Williams RIP

Rock journalist made it on is own, with no subsidies. … more

Higher Scrutiny of Government 'Investments'

Mascoma pulls IPO, questionable subsidies remain. … more

Center Analyst Discusses Film Subsidies

Jarrett Skorup on FOX2 Detroit Sunday. … more

'Transformers 4' Taking $20M from Taxpayers

Last "Transformers" movie made $1.1 billion. … more

A Look Behind the Curtain

Center analysis exposes fallacies of Oz subsidies. … more

Media Ignores Costs In Film Coverage

Lawmakers exchange bad policy for Hollywood glitz

Lawmakers exchange bad policy for Hollywood glitz. … more

Michigan Gets Flying Monkeys for $40 Million

"Oz" defends its own corporate welfare while slamming others. … more

Michigan Taxpayers Already Paid for 'Oz'

Film costs state taxpayers almost $9 each

Disney gets $40 million subsidy; has $4.8 billion profit. … more

Time to 'Sequester' Arts Subsidies

Let people keep their own money, choose their own art. … more

Long Live Rock: Technology Throws a Lifeline

The market, not subsidies, helps music evolve. … more

Government Funding of 'Scientific' Research

Lots of benefits for politicians, little for taxpayers. … more

On Breughel and Brussels Sprouts

Why public funding for the arts, or food, is still a bad idea. … more

Road Funding or Film Subsidies?

GOP legislators have hard time prioritizing. … more

Subsidized Housing for Government Workers

Land bank deals should be extended to all buyers. … more

The Common Ploy for More Funding

Universities want even more tax dollars. … more

Ethanol Subsidies Costly, Damaging

Walker commentary in Lansing State Journal Sunday. … more

Terrible Track Record

Government's 'green' venture capitalism experiment a failure.

Government's "green" venture caplitalism experiment a failure. … more

Skorup Cited in Wall Street Journal

Taxpayers shouldn't fund sports stadiums

Taxpayers shouldn't fund sports stadiums. … more

Taxpayer-Funded Stadiums a Lose-Lose Proposition

If Ilitch wants new home for Red Wings, he should pay for it. … more

LaFaive: Put Subsidies for Detroit Red Wings on Ice

Taxpayers should not be forced to support stadiums, arenas. … more

The 'Pro Big Business' Myth Put to Rest

Center a lone voice against corporate welfare for 25 years. … more

Prop 3 Can't Change the Laws of Economics

No matter how badly supporters want to think it can

No matter how badly supporters want to think it can. … more

Legislators Propose More Corporate Welfare

Picking winners and losers; mostly losers.  … more

Prop 3 Would Cost Taxpayers Billions

Mandate means higher costs, more corporate welfare. … more

Wind Subsidies Upon Mandates Upon Subsidies

Ad Infinitum, Ad Absurdum

Maybe politicians should just let the market sort it out. … more

Economic Development a Campaign Tool

Subsidies help politicians look like they're "doing something." … more

13-Year-Old to Reopen Hot Dog Cart

It took a national spotlight, but ... … more

Lessons from Allen Park

City's foray into film subsidies misguided, costly. … more

Outsourcing Isn't the Problem

Special favors to bring jobs back not the answer. … more

GOP Budget Spends More on Film Subsidies

Picking Hollywood over taxpayers

Republicans want to keep giving your money to Hollywood. … more

Occupy to Protest Mackinac Center

Group sends mixed message with its words, actions. … more

Corporate Welfare Backers Change Tune

Subsidies now about "groundwork" after jobs fail to materialize. … more

Michigan's Job Loss Apocalypse Averted!

No thanks to the 'Department of Corporate Welfare.'

No thanks to the "Department of Corporate Welfare." … more

'Free' College Tuition Plan Questioned

Jobs attract graduates, not vice versa. … more

Movie Reviews

Media fails to report on film subsidies funded by taxpayers. … more

Flashy Projects Flash Back

It didn't have to come to this for Detroit

It didn't have to come to this for Detroit. … more

Same Old Story on Energy Policy

Politicians show continued folly of central planning

Politicians show continued folly of central planning. … more

Pfizer Story Cited

CapCon story forms basis for entire AnnArbor.com posting. … more

CapCon Coverage Gets National Media Attention

Story on A123 cited in Washington Examiner. … more

Center Cited in National Review

CapCon story on A123 battery maker draws national attention. … more

Center Cited on Tourism Subsidies

State study noted as "dubious." … more

Commentary: Tourism Study Flawed

State needs to abandon subsidy favors

State needs to abandon subsidy favors. … more

Center Analyst: College Subsidy Plan Won't Work

Michael Van Beek outlines the downsides to "Michigan2020." … more

Dim Bulbs

Editorial compares $50 light bulb to Chevy Volt … more

GM Suspends Volt Production

Center analyst cited on $250k subsidies. … more

Train Wreck: Amtrak Is a Case Study in Government Waste

Subsidies for Amtrak, other rail projects should end. … more

Editorial Cites Hohman on Chevy Volt Subsidies

Taxpayers on hook for up to $250K for each one sold. … more

Michigan's Solyndra?

Taxpayers on the hook for shady movie studio deal. … more

Center Analyst in Free Press on Film Subsidy Failure

State retirees on the hook for missed bond payment. … more

LaFaive Cited in Bloomberg Businessweek

Corporate welfare stretches back decades. … more

Hohman Cited by Fox on Chevy Volt

Analysis continues to draw national attention. … more

LaFaive Cited on GlobalWatt Eviction

San Francisco NBC affiliate covering story. … more

Chevy Volt Story Hits Media

CapCon uncovers generous subsidies to Chevy Volt … more

Harding Cited on Battery Maker's Decline

"Red flag" when subsidies dictate the market. … more

Center Credited for Ending Film Subsidy Payment

Editorial cites Center's work in uncovering $10 million plan. … more

Raiding State Trust Funds a Bad Idea

Legislators shouldn't pretend to be venture capitalists. … more

Center Analysts Expose Corporate Welfare Failure

Harding, McHugh Op-Eds in Detroit, Holland. … more

'Green Jobs' Replaced with Blue Collar Jobs?

Government gambling with taxpayer dollars loses again. … more

Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, Corporate Welfare's Got to Go

Tea partiers, Occupiers can agree on this chant. … more

$500m Subsidy for Finnish Electric Car Maker

Is this for green energy or foreign aid? … more

Pot, Meet Kettle

Subsidized solar firms decry solar subsidies ... in China. … more

From the Department of You Can't Be Serious ...

MSU gets federal grant to study economic development subsidies. … more

'Green Jobs' Smackdown Worth Repeating

New study shows dismal return on millions in subsidies. … more

Electric Cars Nonstarter With Consumers

New survey shows disinterest in electric cars. … more

The Solyndra Lesson

More subsidies not the answer to job creation. … more

Politicians Pursue 'Green Jobs' at Their Peril

Propping up bad policy could cost them their jobs. … more

GOP Combines Corporate Welfare & 'Cool Cities'

Do Senate Republican politicians get the Tea Party? … more

It's Not Easy Subsidizing Green

Goverment should stop wasting money on green jobs. … more

Where Are All the Green Jobs?

Green jobs subsidies lead to red ink. … more

Corporate Environmental Indoctrination

Subsidized companies dabbling in school curriculum. … more

Going in Circles

Subsidies for NASCAR track questioned. … more

How Federal Money Doesn't Translate Into Jobs

Who spends money better, the government or private individuals? … more

Former Governor Gets it Wrong Again

Gov. Granholm in Newsweek.  … more

Flint Journal Writes About Cap Con Story

Cap Con breaks story on MEDC-bus company problems.  … more

Crash and Burn

Government subsidy boondoggle that Center expert warned against falls flat.  … more

End Energy Subsidies to Reduce National Debt

Time to stop corporate welfare for energy producers. … more

Movie Fiction

Mike LaFaive on film subsidy failure. … more

Stage Doors and Broken Windows

'Love Boat?'

Officials actually think cruise ships will visit Detroit. … more

Cap the Film Incentives and Kill the Film Industry in Michigan? Not Yet

Film Industry Supporters Crying Wolf Over Governor's Plans for Film Subsidies

Since the announcement of a $25 million film incentive cap, the Michigan Film Office has approved nearly $10 million in film credits. … more

Why Film Subsidies Must Go

Michael LaFaive, director of the Center’s Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative, explains in a recent Port Huron Times-Herald Op-Ed why the Michigan film subsidy program needs to be eliminated. … more

Congressman Cites Center Research as Reason for His Change of Heart Over Film Subsidies

Congressman Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, who as a state legislator supported Michigan’s film subsidy program, cited research by Mackinac Center analysts as one reason he now says he “won’t second guess” plans to roll back the program, according to WZZM-TV13 in Grand Rapids. … more

LaFaive, Albom on Film Subsidies

Michael LaFaive, director of the Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative, appeared on Detroit television station WDIV’s “FlashPoint” program Sunday morning as part of a panel discussion on Michigan’s film subsidy program. Author Mitch Albom also appeared on the program. … more

Film Council Blasts Proposed Subsidy Cut

Film Subsidy Amounts Grossly Under-Reported

The amount of film subsidies given away in Michigan was under-reported by $72 million in 2008 and 2009, according to WDIV-TV4 in Detroit. … more

Time to End Corporate Welfare

A New York Daily News columnist cites Michael LaFaive, director of the Center’s Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative, in a column today calling for an end to corporate welfare. … more

New Film Subsidy Study Doesn't Show Full Picture

A new study that claims Michigan receives an economic benefit from its film subsidy program has come under fire, according to statewide media reports. … more

LaFaive Invited to Testify Before Senate Finance Committee on Repeal of Michigan Business Tax

Michael LaFaive, director of the Center's Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative, testified today before the state Senate Finance Committee on the elimination of the Michigan Business Tax. You can read his full testimony here… more

'Hire Michigan' Won't Increase Hiring in Michigan

Proposed legislation that would offer subsidies to companies the state contracts with if those companies hire Michigan-based workers would increase costs, Fiscal Policy Director Michael LaFaive told WEYI-TV25… more

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