Score contribution per author:
α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count
State and local governments use economic development incentives (EDI) extensively to promote employment and economic growth. Research suggests that new jobs may go primarily to in-migrants rather than existing workers, which raises questions about who benefits from incentivizing employment (Bartik, 1993). Using a prominent national incentives database, we use event-study and regression frameworks to investigate the impacts of large, abrupt changes in state-level EDI programs on migration. Our results suggest increased net in-migration during the first year after a large change in EDI policy. We find no evidence of employment growth impacts.