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Jonathan Coopersmith

Professor, Texas A&M University

Jonathan Coopersmith teaches the history of technology at Texas A&M University.

Latest Columns

To support business, reduce government bribes

Offering businesses incentives to relocate, expand, build a new facility or otherwise contribute to a local economy is increasingly standard practice and big business. In 2014 such incentives and tax breaks cost taxpayers over $80 billion — about 7 percent of local and state budgets. But the price of these incentives is even heavier than it initially looks.