Dear President Obama,
Recently, you challenged university leaders to step up and find new ways for universities to contribute to their region’s economic well-being. But current university economic development programs may be missing the mark. The bedrock of a region’s economic prosperity will not be built by university programs, patents and workshops alone. The best way for universities to improve the local quality of life might be by sharing their wealth more directly with local and state economies — by paying federal, state and municipal taxes.
Economic prosperity results when residents enjoy a high quality of life that’s aided and enhanced by a healthy tax base. In the words of poet James Oppenheim, sung by striking women textile workers a hundred years ago: “Yes, it is bread we fight for, but we fight for roses too.” It’s that simple. Regions flourish when people have good public schools, reasonable tax rates, easy commutes, clean and safe streets and abundant recreational opportunities.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Would taxing universities save regional economies? « Triple Helix Innovation
