Do spatially targeted redevelopment programs spillover?

This paper estimates spillover effects from a spatially-targeted redevelopment program, the Federal Empowerment Zone (EZ), on neighboring and economically similar areas. EZs are a set of generous tax incentives and grants aimed at small, economically depressed areas of large U.S. cities. We find areas that border or are economically similar to EZ locations experience a decline in the number of establishments and employment compared to areas that border or are similar to rejected EZ applicants. We also demonstrate that using spillover prone areas to estimate program effects causes upward bias when the spillover is negative. We find that for many of our estimates, spillovers more than offset positive program effects, although there are instances when the net effect is small and positive.

► This paper estimates spillover effects from a spatially-targeted redevelopment. ► Areas that border or are similar decline in employment and business establishments. ► Using spillover prone areas to estimate program effects causes upward bias. ► In many cases spillovers more than offset positive program effects.