A new study ranks Arkansas high — among the top 13 states — on how well it establishes criteria and evaluates those criteria for economic development incentives, AKA corporate welfare payments to attract business.

This is somewhat reminiscent of the studies that rank Arkansas high, 5th, on education procedures.

Advertisement

If our education procedures are so good why aren’t our children learning more? If our incentive policy is so well drawn, why are we so poor?

Here’s the full Pew study. It seems to cite Arkansas’s measure of the impact of incentives as the strongest element of its high rating of the state, along with regular review of the incentives. State officials are proud of the rating, naturally.

Advertisement

Arkansas Times: Your voice in the fight

Are you tired of watered-down news and biased reporting? The Arkansas Times has been fighting for truth and justice for 50 years. As an alternative newspaper in Little Rock, we are tough, determined, and unafraid to take on powerful forces. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, we are making a difference. But we can't do it without you. Join the 3,400 paid subscribers who support our great journalism and help us hire more writers. Sign up for a subscription today or make a donation of as little as $1 and help keep the Arkansas Times feisty for years to come.

Previous article UA applicant: Dorrell set back cause of women in football Next article More unflattering attention for ALEC