States like Georgia that offer incentives to shift jobs and businesses their way have seen those efforts scrutinized. A guest columnist today offers a national perspective on these programs. And a guest columnist says there seems to be truth in the belief that financial markets do better when Congress is gridlocked.

Guest columnists

Evaluate job incentives by Jeff Chapman, a researcher for Pew Charitable Trusts

Do-nothing Congress helps markets by Caroline Baum, a Bloomberg news columnist