FDI Incentives Pay – Politically

Vale Columbia FDI Perspectives Perspectives, No. 26, June 28, 2010

4 Pages Posted: 2 Sep 2010

See all articles by Nathan M. Jensen

Nathan M. Jensen

Washington University in St. Louis - Department of Political Science

Edmund J. Malesky

Duke University, Political Science

Date Written: June 26, 2010

Abstract

Despite broad skepticism about the benefits of globalization, the majority of U.S. states have offered lucrative tax incentives to attract investment. The size of these incentives is generally considered too large to be welfare enhancing, and many economists are skeptical of the effectiveness of these policies. Yet despite the mounting evidence to the contrary, the incentives offered by U.S. states (and foreign countries) continue and have actually increased in their generosity over time. In the fall of 2009, we sought to solve this puzzle by conducting an internet survey of 2,000 Americans as part of a Cooperative Congressional Election Study (CCES) project. In this survey, we included questions to assess how individuals feel about FDI and the individuals’ efforts to hold politicians accountable for its attraction. Our central finding is that politicians can use tax incentives to take credit for investment flowing into their district, or deflect blame for losing the competition for mobile firms. Thus, fiscal incentives, while economically inefficient, may be a useful tool for politicians to win reelection.

Suggested Citation

Jensen, Nathan M. and Malesky, Edmund J., FDI Incentives Pay – Politically (June 26, 2010). Vale Columbia FDI Perspectives Perspectives, No. 26, June 28, 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1669748 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1669748

Nathan M. Jensen

Washington University in St. Louis - Department of Political Science ( email )

219 Eliot Hall
St. Louis, MO 63130
United States

Edmund J. Malesky (Contact Author)

Duke University, Political Science ( email )

140 Science Drive (Gross Hall), 2nd floor
Duke University Mailcode: 90204
Durham, NC 27708-0204
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
291
Abstract Views
2,161
Rank
190,856
PlumX Metrics