Gov. Nikki Haley has staked the credibility of her administration on the jobs and investment she’s able to “lure” to South Carolina. All these big jobs announcements sound great – 500 jobs announced here, 1,000 there – but how much are taxpayers giving up to get them? No one knows (no one outside government, anyway), but it’s a lot. And are state officials evaluating whether these “announced” jobs turn into actual jobs? No, not really. And is there any empirical evidence that all this corporate welfare – tax favors, cash grants – is actually worth the investment? No, there isn’t.
Oh, but it makes for some great stories!