Messing With The Markets: Using The Tax Laws To Influence Economic Behavior

I shudder every time I see a state government use the tax law as an incentive for a business to do or not do something. I shudder a lot. States provide these incentives so businesses can create jobs, make investments, locate here, locate there, use specific energy sources, etc., etc. There are thousands of such laws throughout the country. Almost every one is inefficient and ineffective. I am often reminded of Bruce Springsteen's poetic verse in "Atlantic City": Down here it's just winners and l...