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
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
Another One: Stimulus-Backed Battery Company Workers With No Work To Do — Playing Cards, Watching Movies, Reading Magazines
LG Chem joins the growing list of 'green' failures
LG Chem workers "have nothing to do." … more
Legislators Propose More Corporate Welfare
Picking winners and losers; mostly losers. … more
MEDC Removes Video of Obama, Top Dems Praising Failed Battery Company
YouTube promotion showed Obama, Granholm, Levin and Stabenow promising thousands of jobs
A123 had been touted by President Obama, Gov. Granholm. … more
Wind Subsidies Upon Mandates Upon Subsidies
Ad Infinitum, Ad Absurdum
Maybe politicians should just let the market sort it out. … more
Prop 3’s Renewable Energy Standard Could Cost Michigan 10,540 Jobs, According to New Mackinac Center-Beacon Hill Institute Study
Study considers investment and costs of the ‘25 x 25’ proposal; effect of current 10 percent standard also estimated
Economic Development a Campaign Tool
Subsidies help politicians look like they're "doing something." … more
Film Subsidy Money Has to Come From Somewhere
Actress's defense a case study for why movie program is an economic failure
It's like "feeding sparrows through a horse." … more
Lessons from Allen Park
City's foray into film subsidies misguided, costly. … 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
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
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
'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
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
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
