Lessons and Limits: Tax Incentives and Rebuilding the Gulf Coast after Katrina

This report examines the purpose of the Gulf Opportunity Zone tax program and explains how this latest endeavor reflects the 25-year evolution of federal efforts to use tax incentives as a core tool for revitalizing distressed areas. The evidence suggests that tax incentives alone are not enough—they work better when combined with good planning, local capacity-building, and good governance across sectors.