Corporate Welfare
When government bestows privileges—monopoly status, subsidies, bailouts, loan guarantees, targeted tax breaks—on particular firms or industries, it does so at the expense of everyone else in the economy: taxpayers, entrepreneurs, and everyday citizens. Mercatus research demonstrates how such government favoritism misdirects resources, impedes genuine economic progress, breeds corruption, and undermines the legitimacy of both the government and the private sector.
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Latest work in Corporate Welfare
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
More Entitlement Red Flags as Politicians Tout Inaction | Creators Syndicate
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Monopoly Hiding in Plain Sight | RealClearPolicy
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Microchip Subsidy Sleight-of-Hand | The Hill
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Is the Kansas/Panasonic Deal a Good Idea? | NPR (Missouri)
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
On the Idea’s 30th Anniversary, Could our Governors Stop Corporate Giveaways? | The Shelbyville News
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Sick of Sneaky State Subsidies? Ban Secret Deals | The Hill
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Kansas-Missouri Border War Isn't Over | RealClearPolicy
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Michigan Overpaid for Battery Plants, Utility Customers May be Stuck With the Bill | Yahoo! Finance
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Moving the Commanders Stadium to Virginia | WJLA-TV (DC)
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Taxpayers Line Up to Be Sacked by the Washington Commanders | The Washington Times
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Michigan SOAR Funding for Economic Stimulus: Even Though the Train Has Left the Station, It's Not Too Late to Change Tracks
Michigan Senate Committee on Appropriations
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Michigan's SOAR Funding for Economic Stimulus: Even Though the Train Has Left the Station, It's Not Too Late to Change Tracks
Michigan House Appropriations Committee
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Kansas Is Going Down Wrong Path in Sweetening a Subsidy When Company Has Likely Made Its Decision | The Topeka Capital-Journal (KS)
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Subsidy Bowl LVI: LA Shows Cincinnati How It’s Done | RealClearPolicy
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Tax Haven for Stadium | WTOP News Radio (DC)
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Frustrated by a Corporate Handout ‘Groundhog Day’? Blame the American Rescue Plan | The Hill
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Helping Kansas Get the Best out of a Bad Deal: Megasubsidies for a Mystery Company
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
West Virginia Helps Lead the Nation toward an Interstate Compact to End Corporate Subsidies
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Don’t Bank On an End to Oil and Gas Handouts | The Hill
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Proposed New Mexico United Stadium | Tipping Point New Mexico Podcast
Latest work in Corporate Welfare
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
More Entitlement Red Flags as Politicians Tout Inaction | Creators Syndicate
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Monopoly Hiding in Plain Sight | RealClearPolicy
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Microchip Subsidy Sleight-of-Hand | The Hill
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Is the Kansas/Panasonic Deal a Good Idea? | NPR (Missouri)
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
On the Idea’s 30th Anniversary, Could our Governors Stop Corporate Giveaways? | The Shelbyville News
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Sick of Sneaky State Subsidies? Ban Secret Deals | The Hill
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Kansas-Missouri Border War Isn't Over | RealClearPolicy
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Michigan Overpaid for Battery Plants, Utility Customers May be Stuck With the Bill | Yahoo! Finance
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Moving the Commanders Stadium to Virginia | WJLA-TV (DC)
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Taxpayers Line Up to Be Sacked by the Washington Commanders | The Washington Times
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Michigan SOAR Funding for Economic Stimulus: Even Though the Train Has Left the Station, It's Not Too Late to Change Tracks
Michigan Senate Committee on Appropriations
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Michigan's SOAR Funding for Economic Stimulus: Even Though the Train Has Left the Station, It's Not Too Late to Change Tracks
Michigan House Appropriations Committee
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Kansas Is Going Down Wrong Path in Sweetening a Subsidy When Company Has Likely Made Its Decision | The Topeka Capital-Journal (KS)
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Subsidy Bowl LVI: LA Shows Cincinnati How It’s Done | RealClearPolicy
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Tax Haven for Stadium | WTOP News Radio (DC)
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Frustrated by a Corporate Handout ‘Groundhog Day’? Blame the American Rescue Plan | The Hill
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Helping Kansas Get the Best out of a Bad Deal: Megasubsidies for a Mystery Company
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
West Virginia Helps Lead the Nation toward an Interstate Compact to End Corporate Subsidies
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Don’t Bank On an End to Oil and Gas Handouts | The Hill
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Proposed New Mexico United Stadium | Tipping Point New Mexico Podcast
Latest work in Corporate Welfare
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Economic Case against a Second Airline Payroll Bailout
- | Regulation Regulation
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
A Snapshot of Occupational Licensing Regulation in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic States
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
POLICY SPOTLIGHT: Targeted Economic Development Subsidies Don’t Work. An Interstate Compact Could End Them
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Research Papers Research Papers
An Interstate Compact to End the Economic Development Subsidy Arms Race
- | Housing Housing
- | Working Papers Working Papers
The Politics of Redevelopment Planning in Tysons and Outcomes 10 Years Later
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
Ex-Im Favors High-Income Nations When Choosing What Exports to Support
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Federal Pandemic Relief Could End the Interstate Economic Development Arms Race
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Protecting the Presumption of Freedom
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Occupational Licensing Reform and the Right to Earn a Living: A Blueprint for Action
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Corporate Welfare: Beyond the Budgetary Cost
- | Healthcare Healthcare
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The Coronavirus and Lessons for Preparedness
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
First, Do No Harm: Three Ways That Policymakers Can Make It Easier for Healthcare Professionals to Do Their Jobs
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Working Papers Working Papers
Outlawing Favoritism: The Economics, History, and Law of Anti-Aid Provisions in State Constitutions
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
A Summary of the History and Effects of Anti-Aid Provisions in State Constitutions
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Research Papers Research Papers
The Economics of a Targeted Economic Development Subsidy
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
The State of State and Local Subsidies to Business
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Public Perceptions of Markets, Government, and Favoritism
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Policy Briefs Policy Briefs
Ex-Im Bank: A Comparative Analysis of Pre- and Post- Quorum Lending
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Research Papers Research Papers
A Culture of Favoritism
Corporate Privilege and Beliefs about Markets and Government
- | International Freedom and Trade International Freedom and Trade
- | Data Visualizations Data Visualizations
How Has Boeing Fared without the Ex-Im Bank’s Aid?
Latest work in Corporate Welfare
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Is the Kansas/Panasonic Deal a Good Idea? | NPR (Missouri)
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Moving the Commanders Stadium to Virginia | WJLA-TV (DC)
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Tax Haven for Stadium | WTOP News Radio (DC)
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Podcast Appearance Podcast Appearance
Proposed New Mexico United Stadium | Tipping Point New Mexico Podcast
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The John Batchelor Show - Ex-Im's Pandemic Cronyism
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Michael Farren on Wisconsin Public Radio - Foxconn Backs Out
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The John Batchelor Show - Infrastructure Corporate Welfare
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The David Webb Show - Airline Bailout
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The John Batchelor Show - Airline Cronyism
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The John Batchelor Show - The Export-Import Bank
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on WCAX TV - Airline Bailout
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on CNBC - Airline Bailout Part 2
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on Marketplace - Airline Bailout
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Veronique de Rugy on The Lars Larson Show - Airline Bailout
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Mercatus Original Video Mercatus Original Video
Certificate of Needs Laws in Health Care: Lessons from Research
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Michael Farren on WBUR's "On Point", July 11 2019
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Researching the American Founding
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Mercatus Original Video Mercatus Original Video
What Do Business Leaders Think about Government Favoritism?
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | TV Appearance TV Appearance
Michael D. Farren on C-SPAN's Washington Journal
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Radio Appearance Radio Appearance
Michael D. Farren on the Jim Bohannon Show
Latest work in Corporate Welfare
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Michigan SOAR Funding for Economic Stimulus: Even Though the Train Has Left the Station, It's Not Too Late to Change Tracks
Michigan Senate Committee on Appropriations
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Michigan's SOAR Funding for Economic Stimulus: Even Though the Train Has Left the Station, It's Not Too Late to Change Tracks
Michigan House Appropriations Committee
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Helping Kansas Get the Best out of a Bad Deal: Megasubsidies for a Mystery Company
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
West Virginia Helps Lead the Nation toward an Interstate Compact to End Corporate Subsidies
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
An Interstate Compact to Phase Out Corporate Giveaways
Testimony before the Delaware General Assembly, House Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
An Interstate Compact to End Company-Specific Subsidies
Testimony before the Illinois General Assembly, House Revenue and Finance Committee
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Ending Nondisclosure Agreements Would Reduce Subsidy Waste
Testimony before the Illinois General Assembly, House Revenue and Finance Committee
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Understanding the Harm Caused by Economic Development Subsidies
Testimony before the Finance Committee of the Common Council of the City of Fort Wayne
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
An Interstate Compact to Phase Out Corporate Giveaways
Testimony before the Connecticut General Assembly, Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
An Interstate Compact to Phase Out Corporate Giveaways
Testimony before the State of Rhode Island General Assembly, House Finance Committee
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Is the Ex-Im Bank Bailing Out Its Favorite Borrower?
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Public Interest Comments Public Interest Comments
Now Is the Time to Revisit the 50-Year Relationship Between the Ex-Im Bank and PEFCO
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Now Is the Time to Revisit the 50-Year Relationship Between the Ex-Im Bank and PEFCO
Testimony before the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Meeting of the Board of Directors
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Federal Testimonies Federal Testimonies
Congress Should Reflect on Past Financial Relief Before Providing More
Testimony before the US Senate, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Colorado Occupational Licensing and Credential Portability
Testimony before the Colorado General Assembly, House Committee on Business Affairs & Labor
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
An Interstate Compact to Phase Out Corporate Giveaways
Testimony before the Illinois General Assembly, House Revenue & Finance Committee
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
An Interstate Compact to Phase Out Company Giveaways
Testimony before the Maryland General Assembly, House Ways and Means Committee
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
The State of State and Local Tax Incentives and Subsidies to Local Business
Testimony before the State of Vermont House of Representatives, House Committee on Ways and Means; the State of Vermont Senate Chamber, Senate Committee on Finance; and the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Understanding Why Economic Development Subsidies Are a Problem and What Can Be Done about Them
Testimony before the State of Vermont House of Representatives, House Committee on Ways and Means; the State of Vermont Senate Chamber, Senate Committee on Finance; and the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | State Testimonies State Testimonies
Using an Interstate Compact to Solve the Problems with Economic Development Subsidies
Testimony before the New Hampshire House of Representatives, Ways and Means Committee
Latest work in Corporate Welfare
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
More Entitlement Red Flags as Politicians Tout Inaction | Creators Syndicate
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Monopoly Hiding in Plain Sight | RealClearPolicy
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Microchip Subsidy Sleight-of-Hand | The Hill
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
On the Idea’s 30th Anniversary, Could our Governors Stop Corporate Giveaways? | The Shelbyville News
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Sick of Sneaky State Subsidies? Ban Secret Deals | The Hill
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Kansas-Missouri Border War Isn't Over | RealClearPolicy
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Michigan Overpaid for Battery Plants, Utility Customers May be Stuck With the Bill | Yahoo! Finance
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Taxpayers Line Up to Be Sacked by the Washington Commanders | The Washington Times
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Kansas Is Going Down Wrong Path in Sweetening a Subsidy When Company Has Likely Made Its Decision | The Topeka Capital-Journal (KS)
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Subsidy Bowl LVI: LA Shows Cincinnati How It’s Done | RealClearPolicy
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Frustrated by a Corporate Handout ‘Groundhog Day’? Blame the American Rescue Plan | The Hill
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Don’t Bank On an End to Oil and Gas Handouts | The Hill
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Moral Hazard: Airline Edition
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Don’t Be Fooled: The Export-Import Bank Is in the Big-Business Business
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
How the Cronyism Sausage Is Made
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Federal COVID Relief Imposes Truce in States’ Corporate Welfare Wars
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
A Waste of Money
Subsidies, such as for Project Mastodon, ineffective in corporate machinations
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
The Third Airline Bailout Is No Better Than the First Two Bailouts
- | Corporate Welfare Corporate Welfare
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary
Is There a Solution to Iowa’s — and America’s — Stadium Subsidy Cronyism?
It’s like a game of musical chairs: Politicians pull the seat out from under families and small businesses to privilege politically influential corporations.
- | Government Spending Government Spending
- | Expert Commentary Expert Commentary