Beginner's Guide to Economic Development

Local governments provide subsidies to attract companies to locate in their communities but keep citizens in the dark about these deals. Subsidized development deals must be transparent, and companies and officials must be accountable to the public. This report recommends that cities ban public officials from signing non-disclosure agreements with corporations, that companies refund their subsidies if they fail to comply with development agreements, and companies receiving subsidies be required to pay above market-rate wages.