Business & Economy
Experts dispute glowing tax ranking
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By PATRICK HOWARD
Capital News Service
LANSING – Economic experts are divided after a tax advocacy group’s study jumped Michigan from 49th to 7th place in corporate tax rankings. The Tax Foundation, a nonprofit research group based in Washington D.C., also cited the state’s upgrade from 18th to 12th in overall business climate. According to Mark Robyn, an economist with Tax Foundation, the criteria for a state’s positive ranking include low taxes and a broad tax base while keeping tax policy as simple as can be. “Essentially, the ranking is intended to indicate how business friendly state corporate taxes are,” Robyn said. Robyn noted the foundation’s decision to update Michigan’s ranking is based on the state’s current tax policy, which went into effect Jan.