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Does Tax Increment Financing Pass the “But-for†Test in Missouri?

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  • Ahmed Rachid El-Khattabi
  • T. William Lester

Abstract

The use of tax increment financing (TIF) remains a popular, yet highly controversial, tool among policy makers in their efforts to promote economic development. This study conducts a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of Missouri’s TIF program, specifically in Kansas City and St. Louis, in creating economic opportunities. We build a time-series data set starting 1990 through 2012 of detailed employment levels, establishment counts, and sales at the census block-group level to run a set of difference-in-differences with matching estimates for the impact of TIF at the local level. Although we analyze the impact of TIF on a wide set of indicators and across various industry sectors, we find no conclusive evidence that the TIF program in either city has a causal impact on key economic development indicators.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmed Rachid El-Khattabi & T. William Lester, 2019. "Does Tax Increment Financing Pass the “But-for†Test in Missouri?," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 33(3), pages 187-202, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecdequ:v:33:y:2019:i:3:p:187-202
    DOI: 10.1177/0891242419859097
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Kim, Donghyuk, 2023. "Economic spillovers and political payoffs in government competition for firms: Evidence from the Kansas City Border War," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
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    4. Yoon-Jung Choi & Phuong Nguyen-Hoang, 2024. "The Impact of Tax Increment Financing on Business Entries and Exits in Iowa," Economic Development Quarterly, , vol. 38(2), pages 100-112, May.

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