Legislators recently loosened restrictions on North Carolina's targeted tax incentive program allowing companies to claim as much as for every job created in connection with a Job Development Investment Grant That's a percent increase from the old cap of per job The change passed without much opposition in the General Assembly But Jon Sanders John Locke Foundation director of regulatory studies explains why an increased reliance on targeted tax incentives means bad news for state taxpayers Progressives argue that their policies are designed to help disadvantaged groups including minorities and the poor But Michael Jacobs professor at UNC-Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler [... more]

Politicians who rely on targeted tax incentives to help recruit businesses to North Carolina share a common trait with teenagers who stuff their faces with the first piece of chocolate cake they see Joseph Coletti John Locke Foundation senior fellow explains that analogy as he dissects this state's incentives policy Coletti explains why the politicians and teenagers would benefit from considering alternatives Charlotte's Sugar Creek Charter School has demonstrated clear success But school founder and former Charlotte Mayor Richard Vinroot says that success followed early struggles Vinroot explained recently for state lawmakers how an early threat of closing prompted Sugar [... more]

North Carolina's teacher attrition rate dropped last year and those who left the job were less effective teachers than those who stayed Terry Stoops John Locke Foundation vice president for research digs into the latest data about teacher attrition and teacher vacancies Members of the University of North Carolina system's Board of Governors are interested in boosting intellectual diversity on campuses They sought advice recently from Princeton professor Robert George the founder and leader of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions George highlighted his program's positive impact on the Princeton campus He also pointed to potential challenges [... more]

The daughter of North Carolina-based former Ambassador Jim Cain serves as lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against Twitter Cameron Cain and a co-plaintiff contend that the social media giant has not taken adequate stops to block ISIS from using Twitter to plan its terrorist attacks Jon Guze the John Locke Foundation's director of legal studies explores the legal implications of Cain v Twitter North Carolina lawmakers continue to debate whether and how to use targeted tax incentives to lure new jobs into the state A recent N C House committee meeting featured debate about proposals to tweak incentives rules in [... more]