tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143977.post111456792176409589..comments2023-10-16T03:50:37.233-04:00Comments on America's Hometown: Philadelphia and the BPT: Imperfect TogetherUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143977.post-1114703162348414272005-04-28T11:46:00.000-04:002005-04-28T11:46:00.000-04:00I think if you look at Bala you'll find several bu...I think if you look at Bala you'll find several businesses - including many Philadelphia radio and television stations - who made their location choice almost entirely on taxes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143977.post-1114700592037385682005-04-28T11:03:00.000-04:002005-04-28T11:03:00.000-04:00Yes, but you simply cannot ignore the reality that...Yes, but you simply cannot ignore the reality that suburbs everywhere are booming, right? <BR/><BR/>So we are growing in education. It is really great. But, Penn made the decision long ago that they were not moving to Valley Forge, and that they had to expand within Philly. And, as with many colleges, business is good, and they understand the need to build up a neighborhood around them. This has helped Philly immeasurably, and has probably been a driving force in Temple and Drexel's attempts at expansion.<BR/><BR/>All I am saying is that some things have nothing to do with taxes. Businesses make many decisions on how and why to locate- things that are likely more important than taxes: transportation infrasructure, public ameneties, and access to an educated workforce. Taxes count as well, but, I dont think they are number one, by any stretch. It simply has never been proven. So, we just need to be careful when looking at correlations (ie, we are growing in education) and assuming causal effect. (ie, if other industries had to pay lower taxes, they would expand, as well.)DanielUAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15128742508015088988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143977.post-1114694149322568332005-04-28T09:15:00.000-04:002005-04-28T09:15:00.000-04:00Dan - I think the comparison needs to be between P...Dan - I think the comparison needs to be between Philadelphia and its suburbs, not another City and their suburbs. What other cities with really low tax burdens that are similarly situated to Philadelphia are losing out to their suburbs? Detroit isn't a good example here, not offense to them, but they're not in our league in terms of being a vital, cosmopolitan urban area.JAFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18015647196578714323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143977.post-1114655909123594092005-04-27T22:38:00.000-04:002005-04-27T22:38:00.000-04:00Yes, but then how come places with very little in ...Yes, but then how come places with very little in the way of city taxes still are losing business to their suburban neighbors? Again, this seems a little too simple.DanielUAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15128742508015088988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143977.post-1114633514422310392005-04-27T16:25:00.000-04:002005-04-27T16:25:00.000-04:00You need to look at the Philadelphia region as a s...You need to look at the Philadelphia region as a self-contained entity; if there's economic development in particular sectors that's happening in the suburbs and not here in town, doesn't the tax structure and the obstacles it presents become an obvious place to look for nexus?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143977.post-1114620507558792942005-04-27T12:48:00.000-04:002005-04-27T12:48:00.000-04:00I am not sure a straight line can be drawn from la...I am not sure a straight line can be drawn from lack of a BPT for non-profit sectors, and why they are growing. In fact, given that education and health care seem to be booming everywhere, that seems a little too simple for me.DanielUAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15128742508015088988noreply@blogger.com