What happens when a government agency enters the marketplace and competes with the very businesses that fund the economy around it?

In this episode, we investigate "Oregon Corrections Enterprises (OCE) and the unusual economic advantages created by Oregon’s prison work system. From government procurement and tax exemptions to labor costs, public records, and statutory protections, we examine the five areas where OCE operates under rules that can look very different from those facing Oregon’s private businesses.

At the center of the controversy is a difficult question:

Is OCE an innovative workforce-development program that prepares adults in custody for life after prison or has Oregon created a government-backed competitor that private businesses simply cannot compete with on a level playing field?

We examine the "Buy Deci ...