Academic Journal Publications:
by ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick
From 2002 through 2012, compared with its surrounding states º£½ÇÉçÇø saw less growth in the real dollar value of manufacturing, a greater decline in manufacturing’s share of gross domestic product, and a faster rate of job loss in manufacturing. One reason for these outcomes is manufacturing’s slow growth in labor productivity, which is defined as growth in the dollar value of output per manufacturing employee, adjusted for inflation. This study examines the relationship between state and local taxes and labor productivity in manufacturing. It is found that total state and local tax burdens reduce output per manufacturing employee, primarily through sales and corporate income taxes. Legislators across all states should consider the distortionary effects of taxes when making tax-policy decisions because those decisions will influence not only manufacturing productivity, but also the rate of economic growth.
by Dr. David T. Mitchell and Dean Stansel
During the most recent recession, many state governments faced substantial budget shortfalls. Those shortfalls are often blamed on external factors like the declining economy or reductions in federal aid. What politicians themselves do, especially during expansionary years—whether they enact spending increases, implement tax cuts, increase the size of their rainy day funds, or some combination thereof—is typically given less attention. We examine those factors and find that fiscal stress tends to be positively associated with spending growth, negatively associated with the size of rainy day funds, and not statistically significantly associated with the unemployment rate or federal aid.
ACRE Working Papers:
by ACRE Scholar Dr. Thomas Snyder and ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick.
The study investigates the relationship between providing cash subsidies to select businesses, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, employment and establishments in º£½ÇÉçÇøâ€™s counties. The author’s find no evidence to suggest that Quick Action Closing Fund subsidies lead to increased employment and business establishments in º£½ÇÉçÇøâ€™s counties. The working paper was published by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and has been accepted for publication in The Review of Regional Studies.ÌýYou can read a one-page infographic of Bundrick’s research here.
There’s Nothing Natural about the State of Government Spending in º£½ÇÉçÇø by ACRE Scholar Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl and ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick.
Despite being one of the poorest states in the nation, º£½ÇÉçÇø has a high state government spending level, even in comparison to similar states. º£½ÇÉçÇø has higher state spending per capita than its bordering states and other regional “competitor states,â€� specifically Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. When federal transfers are subtracted from state government spending, º£½ÇÉçÇø still has far higher spending than its competitor states. In “There’s Nothing Natural about the State of Government Spending in º£½ÇÉçÇø,â€� Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl and Mr. Jacob Bundrick undertake a comprehensive analysis of how º£½ÇÉçÇø got to where it is today as well as the reforms necessary to put º£½ÇÉçÇø on a more sustainable path. º£½ÇÉçÇøâ€™s spending trends are very similar to those of other states, but the magnitude of º£½ÇÉçÇøâ€™s spending and the institutional environment that has shaped it are unique. Given º£½ÇÉçÇøâ€™s history of state spending growth, it would be wise to consider some limits to future increases in spending. You can read a one-page infographic of their work here.
Policy Reviews:
Tax Breaks & Subsides: Challenging the º£½ÇÉçÇø Status Quo by ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick
Have you ever wondered whether tax breaks and subsidies have side effects? Are you curious about alternative ways to grow º£½ÇÉçÇø’s economy? This policy review give an in-depth look at these programs, their economic impact, and some common misconceptions people have about them.
Policy Briefs:
Economic Development or Risky Business: A Citizen’s Guide to Issue 3, 2016ÌýbyÌýACRE Scholar Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl and ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick
This brief guide gives readers the pros and cons of the controversial ballot measure Issue 3:ÌýAn Amendment to the º£½ÇÉçÇø Constitution Concerning Job Creation, Job Expansion and Economic Development. This ballot issue would remove the current cap on Amendment 82 bonds the state may issue for economic development projects and allow local governments to appropriate money for economic development.ÌýProponents of Issue 3 argue that by removing the limit on the amount of debt the state can issue forÌýeconomic development, º£½ÇÉçÇø may be able to attract economic-development projects it would notÌýotherwise be able to secure.ÌýHowever, issuing debt and using tax dollars for economic development comes at a cost. º£½ÇÉçÇø and its cities would take on significant risk by issuing public debt to attract select companies under the change from Issue 3.
Radio:
- On December 22, ACRE Scholar Dr. Thomas Snyder and ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick were guests onÌýÌýtalking with Dan Harpool about occupational licensing (including the newÌýÌýreport), Bundrick’s study of the Quick Action Closing Fund, and all the latest in tax reform news (for both º£½ÇÉçÇø and the nation).
- ACRE Scholar Dr. Thomas Snyder and ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick were guests on the Paul Harrell Program on December 12, 2017Ìý discussingÌýtheir recent working paper entitled “â€� on the Paul Harrell Program. You can stream the
- ACRE Scholar Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl was a guest speaker on NPR’s Marketplace discussing SALT deductions on October 27, 2017. If you weren’t one of the 12 million tuning in, you can stream the full segment !
- ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick was a guest on the Paul Harrell show on September 27, 2017 talking about his new paper on º£½ÇÉçÇø state taxes and manufacturing productivity. You can stream theÌý
- ACREÌýScholar Dr. Jeremy HorpedahlÌýand Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick were guests on theÌýPaul Harrell ProgramÌýonÌýAugust 16, 2017.ÌýThey discussed their new Mercatus working paper,Ìý“There’s Nothing Natural about the State of Government Spending in º£½ÇÉçÇø.”
- ACREÌýScholar Dr. Jeremy HorpedahlÌýand Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick spoke in an hour-long segment on theÌýÌýonÌýAugust 10, 2017.ÌýThey discussed state spending and their new Mercatus paper,Ìý“There’s Nothing Natural about the State of Government Spending in º£½ÇÉçÇø.”
- ACRE Director Dr. David Mitchell and Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick spoke in a 2 hour segment on theÌýÌýdiscussing º£½ÇÉçÇø taxation, subsidies, and other state issues on July 13, 2017.
- Policy analyst Jacob Bundrick was a guest onÌýJosh Waters 101.3 FM on July 6, 2017 to discuss policy issues in the state.
- ACRE Director Dr. David Mitchell, Scholar Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl, and Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick were guests onÌýÌýon May 1, 2017 where they discussed º£½ÇÉçÇø tax reform and other state issues.
- ACRE Director Dr. David Mitchell and ACRE Scholar Jeremy Horpedahl were guests on theÌýPaul Harrell ProgramÌýon January 4, 2017. They discussed the complexity of º£½ÇÉçÇøâ€™s tax system and possibilities for tax reform.
- On December 28, 2016, ACRE policy analyst Jacob Bundrick and ACRE Scholar Jeremy Horpedahl were onÌýÌýdiscussing tax reform in º£½ÇÉçÇø.
Op-eds/Commentary:
- º£½ÇÉçÇø Business Status and Future Under The Trump Era EconomyÌýtranscript of panel discussion featuring ACRE Scholar and UCA Assistant Professor of Economics Jeremy Horpedahl at the 66th Annual Conference of º£½ÇÉçÇø College Teachers of Economics and Business. Panel moderator was ACRE Scholar and UCA Associate Professor of Economics Dr. Tom Snyder.
- op-ed published January 20,Ìý2018 by ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick in theÌýº£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat-Gazette.
- Ìýop-ed published October 29,Ìý2017 by ACRE Scholar Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl in theÌýLog Cabin Democrat.
- Ìýop-ed published October 27,Ìý2017 by ACRE policy analyst Jacob Bundrick in theÌýº£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat-Gazette.
- Economic Development Bidding: A Prisoner’s Dilemma insight article published October 20,Ìý2017 by ACRE policy analyst Jacob Bundrick inÌýBloomberg BNA‘s “Daily Tax Report: State.â€�
- Ìýop-ed publishedÌýAugust 26,Ìý2017 by ACRE policy analyst Jacob Bundrick in theÌýº£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat-Gazette.
- Good Jobs Program or Bad Economic Policy?Ìýinsight article publishedÌýAugust 10,Ìý2017 by ACRE policy analyst Jacob Bundrick inÌýBloomberg BNA‘s “DailyÌýTax Report: State.â€�
- Ìýop-ed published July 22,Ìý2017 by by ACRE Scholar Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl and Ms. Nicole Kaeding of the Tax Foundation in theÌýº£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat-Gazette.
- Ìýop-ed published July 20,Ìý2017 by ACRE Director Dr. David MitchellÌýin theÌýº£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat-Gazette.
- Ìýop-ed published May 4, 2017 by ACRE scholar Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl in theÌýº£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat-Gazette.
- Ìýop-ed published December 19, 2016 by ACRE Director Dr. David Mitchell in the º£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat-Gazette.
- commentary published December 7, 2016 by ACRE policy analyst Jacob Bundrick and Dr. Dean Stansel, an economist at Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business in the Dallas Morning News.
- op-ed published November 28, 2016 by ACRE Scholar Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl and Ms. Nicole Kaeding of the Tax Foundation in the º£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat-Gazette.
- Film Tax Credits: Job Creator or Just Another Act?Ìýinsight article published November 18, 2016 by ACRE policy analyst Jacob Bundrick inÌýBloomberg BNA‘s “Weekly State Tax Report.”
- Professional Sports Stadiums: Economic Boon or BoondoggleÌýinsight article published November 11, 2016 by ACRE policy analyst Jacob Bundrick inÌýBloomberg BNA‘s “Weekly State Tax Report.”
- op-ed published October 22, 2016 by ACRE policy analyst Jacob Bundrick in the º£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat-Gazette.
- Policy analyst Jacob Bundrick’s recent blog post on tax breaks and subsides in º£½ÇÉçÇø was recently cited in a by Mr. Dane Clark of Fort Smith in theÌýLonoke Democrat. Clark’s letter was circulated in several local º£½ÇÉçÇø papers like theÌýThe Helena º£½ÇÉçÇø Daily World,Ìýthe Fort Smith Times Record, and theÌýº£½ÇÉçÇø News Bureau. This blog post was based on Bundrick’sÌýrecentÌýpolicy review, Tax Breaks and Subsidies:ÌýChallengingÌýthe º£½ÇÉçÇø Status Quo.
- op-ed published October 10, 2016 by ACRE policy analyst Jacob Bundrick andÌýRajshree Agarwal, the director of the Ed Snider Center for Enterprise and Markets at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business inÌýThe Baltimore Sun.Ìý
- Ìýop-ed published September 3rd, 2016 by ACRE policy analyst Jacob Bundrick.Ìýº£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat Gazette and º£½ÇÉçÇø Online.
- Ìýop-edÌýpublished July 16, 2016 by ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick. º£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat Gazette and º£½ÇÉçÇø Online.
- Ìýop-ed published April 29, 2016 by ACRE Scholar Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl.Ìýº£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat Gazette and º£½ÇÉçÇø Online.
- Ìýop-ed published April 9,Ìý2016 by ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick. º£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat Gazette and º£½ÇÉçÇø Online.
- Ìýop-ed published March 7, 2016 by ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick.Ìýº£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat Gazette and º£½ÇÉçÇø Online.
- Ìýop-ed publishedÌýFebruary 6, 2016 by ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick.Ìýº£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat Gazette and º£½ÇÉçÇø Online.
- Ìýop-edÌýpublished December 21, 2015 by ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick.Ìýº£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat Gazette and º£½ÇÉçÇø Online.
- Ìýop-edÌýpublishedÌýNovember 30, 2015 by ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick.Ìýº£½ÇÉçÇø Business.
- Financial Incentives for All Firms Boost the EconomyÌýby ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick.
- Taxes Take Their Toll on º£½ÇÉçÇø ManufacturingÌýop-edÌýpublished May 28, 2015 by ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick.ÌýThe Jonesboro Sun.
- Ìýcommentary publishedÌýMay 25, 2015Ìýby ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick. º£½ÇÉçÇø Business.
Blog Posts:
Learning From Other States On Tax Reform posted onÌýThe ACRE ReviewÌýon May 15, 2018.
Are Targeted Business Subsidies Good For Economic Growth? posted on The ACRE ReviewÌýDecember 8, 2017.
WhyÌýFinancialÌýIncentives for Businesses Put Taxpayers at RiskÌýby ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick,Ìýposted on The ACRE ReviewÌýSeptember 13, 2016.
How Governments Use Financial Incentives to Try to Steer the EconomyÌýby ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick,Ìýposted on The ACRE ReviewÌýSeptember 6, 2016.
How Tax Breaks and Subsidies Cost You and the Government MoneyÌýby ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick,Ìýposted on The ACRE ReviewÌýAugust 30, 2016.
Why Financial Incentives Do Not Increase Economic ActivityÌýby ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick, posted on The ACRE ReviewÌýAugust 23, 2016.
Tax Incentives and Subsides: Two Staples of Economic DevelopmentÌýby ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick,Ìýposted on The ACRE ReviewÌýAugust 19, 2016.
State Incentives in º£½ÇÉçÇø: A Friendly Debate in the º£½ÇÉçÇø Democrat-GazetteÌýposted on The ACRE Review April 29, 2016.
Making Cents of $18 MillionÌýby ACRE Scholar Dr. Jeremy Horpedahl, posted on The ACRE Review February 29, 2016.
Taxes Take their Toll on º£½ÇÉçÇø ManufacturingÌýby ACRE Policy Analyst Jacob Bundrick,Ìýposted on The ACRE Review July 10, 2015.
