What City Observatory did this week 1. Tim Bartik explains business incentives. States and cities spend about $50 billion a year on tax breaks and other incentives to try to influence business location decisions. The
The Week Observed, November 1, 2019 Read Post »
Pretending that climate change can be solved by widening roads to keep cars from idling in traffic is dishonest and reprehensible, yet that’s exactly what Portland’s regional government is doing. A new poll in Portland
Here’s what climate change denial looks like Read Post »
Political rationalizations and exceptionalism will always be used to justify giveaway policies With the possible exception of Greg LeRoy (who tracks state and local incentives for Good Jobs Now) and Amazon’s site location department, there’s
Bartik: The verdict on business tax incentives Read Post »
One factor trumps all others in determining economic success:Â Educational attainment Brookings researchers pile on more evidence of this key fact, and outline strategies for increasing skills. But remember:Â talented workers are mobile, so you
Revealed: the secret of a successful urban economy Read Post »
Timing is everything in real estate, and mortgage availability cycles mean that people of color buy high and sell low. The Urban Institute has an informative new report charting the swings of home prices across
How homeownership as wealth is rigged against people of color Read Post »
A new study shows a tantalizing connection between more walkable places and intergenerational economic mobility City Observatory readers will be familiar with the findings of Raj Chetty and his colleagues in the Equality of Opportunity
Does walkability promote economic mobility? Read Post »
