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E.J. McMahon\\xa0and\\xa0Seth Barron\\xa0discuss recent corruption cases in New York and how the\\xa0state\\xa0government\\xa0in Albany\\xa0is attempting to revitalize\\xa0struggling\\xa0areas with "economic-development" programs.

Last month,\\xa0Joseph Percoco,\\xa0a former top aide to Governor Andrew Cuomo,\\xa0was\\xa0found guilty\\xa0on corruption charges for accepting more than $300,000 in bribes from two companies.\\xa0Percoco\'s conviction\\xa0reinforces\\xa0the perception that New York\\xa0politics\\xa0operates\\xa0on\\xa0a "pay-to-play"\\xa0model.

Allegations of bid-rigging and other corrupt practices have dogged Albany ever since Governor Cuomo launched his signature economic-development plan, which provides\\xa0subsidies\\xa0to private firms to operate businesses in the state. Despite these efforts, New York continues to lose residents to other states every year.

Edmund J. McMahon\\xa0is founder and research director of the Empire Center for Public Policy, based in Albany. Follow him on Twitter\\xa0@EjmEj.