US taxpayers subsidising world's biggest fossil fuel companies

[1939]

2. Not necessarily big oil

States, counties, and municipalities across the US are competing for businesses to locate there. To get the business to choose their locality instead of another, they compete with enticements/subsidies/bribes usually in terms of free/cheap land, infrastructure (road/sewer) improvements, workforce training, and property/business tax rebates. Companies seek the best offer available. The rationale for offering these enticements/subsidies/bribes is the real or potential increase in jobs/taxes/satellite business start ups which contribute to the economy of the area. The localities are hopeful to get back in benefits more than they give up in subsidies. The risk in this analysis is lessened if the company receiving the subsidies is very profitable. Another factor is that a refinery is much less likely to just pack up and move to greener pastures.