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Is Hollywood’s impact on Georgia’s economy just more make-believe?
Dick Yarbrough
Hollywood is the land of make-believe and nowhere is that make-believe more evident than in the film industry’s alleged impact on Georgia’s economy. That’s according to Dr. J.C. Bradbury, professor of economics at Kennesaw State University. After the General Assembly passed and Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law a measure banning abortions if a fetal heartbeat can be detected, cries of righteous indignation arose from the land of fruits and nuts. Now, the entertainment industry is threatening to boycott the state, overly generous film credits notwithstanding. And a lot of people are wringing their hands in despair. The Georgia Department of Economic Development claims that the film industry had a $9.5 billion impact on the state’s economy in 2018 and the Motion Picture Association of America says the industry is responsible for more than 92,000 jobs in Georgia. Really?