Rich States Poor States: Tax policy determines states' economic competitiveness

(The Center Square) – No matter what a state offers in terms of natural beauty, work and social opportunities, tax and economic policy — as unglamorous as they sound — will play a role in the state’s attractiveness and success over time, the authors of Rich States, Poor States say. That’s why Utah, a state perhaps recognized for its natural beauty but known more for its large religious population, has ranked first every year in the American Legislative Exchange Council report evaluating states’ economic competitiveness. It’s also why “flyover states” like Arkansas, Indiana and Oklahoma rank in the top 10 for economic outlook, while states like California, Hawaii, Illinois and New York, despite their stunning vistas or metropolitan attractions, rank in the bottom 10. Rich States, Poor States ranks states for economic outlook based on 15 economic policy variables, like personal income tax rate, corporate tax rate, property tax, sales tax and state minimum