Michael Brown, David Damore, and William Brown (The Lincy Institute; Brookings Mountain West) author "Understanding Film Tax Credits in Nevada and Nationally," a recently published policy primer that provides an overview of Nevada’s transferable tax credit program for film and other productions, including the program’s legislative history and recent usage, and reviews research examining the effects of film tax programs across the nation, focusing on four areas: economic outcomes, fiscal impacts, stability, and industry outlook.

This review of research on film tax credits finds that these programs are a costly and ineffective tool for economic development as state outlays for these programs far exceed the economic benefits accrued. For a state like Nevada, with unstable revenue streams and a narrow tax base, expenditures on tax credit programs crowd out funding for other priorities. The state's lack of a personal income reduces its ability to recoup some of the costs it incurs to subsidize film and television production.