Michigan legislators approved almost $3 billion in new corporate welfare spending during just the first quarter of 2023. Citizens in small communities from Big Rapids to Marshall learned late that massive taxpayer subsidy deals between big government and big businesses had been brokered without their knowledge. Their own tax dollars may be used to turn their quaint communities into factory towns.
What exactly are taxpayers getting for their economic development money? What is the track record of previous corporate subsidy programs? Importantly, how might these influence Michigan’s long-term economic health and population trends?
This event will provide an overview of the evidence about state and local government economic development programs’ impacts on jobs, the economy and more.
The featured speakers, Michael LaFaive and John Mozena, have long economic development policy pedigrees. Please join the Mackinac Center for lunch and to learn more.
Tuesday, July 18, 2023
Lunch: 11:30 a.m.
Program 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Southern Exposure Gardens
11269 Gorsline Rd.
Battle Creek, MI 49014
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Registration is closed.
Michael LaFaive is the senior director of the Morey Fiscal Policy Initiative for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, where he has worked since 1995.
He is perhaps best known for his scholarly work examining state “economic development” programs. His studies and frequent commentaries on this topic have garnered him a national reputation as a respected critic of state and local government economic development policies.
John Mozena is the president of the Center for Economic Accountability, where he works to bring free-market-based reforms to economic development programs across the United States. He has been quoted or had his columns published in media such as National Review, the Washington Post, Newsweek, The Hill, Reason, Real Clear Policy, the American Conservative and dozens of major daily newspapers across the country.
