https://boiseguardian.com/2005/07/21/big-jobs-can-mean-big-layoffs/ A different slant on the news. Thu, 04 Aug 2005 16:15:05 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://boiseguardian.com/2005/07/21/big-jobs-can-mean-big-layoffs/#comment-69 Thu, 04 Aug 2005 16:15:05 +0000 https://boiseguardian.com/wp/?p=62#comment-69 Welcome to the quandary of the mountain west states…create jobs by attracting large firms into the community. One can bet that the local economic developers will be waving their “banners” pretty high the next time they are able to “lure” the next big company to Boise. Pay special thanks to the governor, and the (all so) sophisticated legislature for providing more economic incentives (better known in Idaho as “bait”)to land that next “big fish”. It is my opinion that Idaho, and Boise sells itself to those firms truly wanting to contribute to its grandeur, and embed its operations here to enjoy the quality of life we Idahoans all know. Job creation incentives tend to attract (a pure economic development term—attraction) the wrong type of businesses…ones that are shopping our “bait” against every other community willing to participate in this “race to the bottom”. HP jobs will be hard to truly replace. It seems economic incentives would be more beneficial in the realm of existing business expansions, entrepreneur innovations and support, small business assistance, and investment in our “home grown” human capital. Economic incentives maneuver human behavior, good and bad, (we should) make informed decisions and use these powerful incentives wisely.

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