Disney’s Georgia Boycott Could Be ‘Disastrous’ for State’s Billion Dollar Industry

Georgia Tech’s Tibor Besedes doesn’t think his governor is willing to walk away from a profitable local industry over anti-gay law

spider-man captain america civil war

Disney drew a line in the sand on Wednesday: If Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signs the anti-gay bill presently on his desk, the media giant is leaving his state.

Georgia Tech economics professor Tibor Besedes doesn’t think the mouse is going anywhere. After all, there is “far too much at stake” for the state to call Disney’s bluff, he told TheWrap. It’d be “disastrous” if it did and Disney bounced, Besedes said.

“If I were a betting man, I would bet that the governor is going to veto this,” he predicted during a Wednesday telephone interview.

Here’s what’s at stake: In 2013, the state brought in almost a billion dollars from local Hollywood productions; $938 million, to be precise.

Want to keep reading?

Create a free account, or log in with your email below.

 

Gain access to unlimited free articles, news alerts, select newsletters, podcasts and more.

 

Comments