Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Regional Report: Northeast

A state-by-state look at what the Southwest has to offer businesses.

How well is the Northeast doing? Its $3 trillion economy, fueled by the Knowledge Economy centered on the cities of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C, and the heavy lifting provided by still-vital manufacturing prowess, produces some 20 percent of the goods and services. Much of America’s wealth is produced here, and much value accrues here. Three of the nation’s wealthiest states, based on per capita income are here: Connecticut, Delaware and the territory of Washington D.C. Of the country’s 75 wealthiest counties by per capita income, 44 lie in the Boston-Washington corridor.

But look a little closer, and the picture turns less rosy. In 2012, the last full year for which economic growth is available, U.S. GDP grew 2.5 percent. It’s notable that every one of the 11 states that constitute the Northeast registered below-average growth. Maryland topped the regional rankings at 2.4 percent; the giant economies of New York and New Jersey both limped along at 1.3 percent; and Connecticut, alone among the 50 states, showed a negative GDP of -.1 percent.

Click photo for larger chart

Led by aggressive governors doubling as their states recruiters-in-chief, Texas and Florida—as well as other sun-belt states—have been siphoning off a substantial chunk of the region’s economy, luring a steady stream of corporate chiefs to expand or relocate in warmer climates. Not surprisingly, much of the nation’s job-creation activity has taken place away from the Northeast. When Bright.com, an aggregator of job postings and resumes, calculated which cities offered job hunters the most opportunities, greater Seattle topped the list. Greater Schenectady, alone among Northeastern cities, made the top 30.

Chiefs in the Northeast are increasingly beset by wanderlust, eyeballing states and regions around the country—and sometimes overseas—for expansion opportunities, or to relocate headquarters and operations entirely. It’s not just incentives and subsidies that draw them out of the region. Chiefs complain about such issues as aging infrastructure, punishing climates and housing costs that deter new or relocating employees. Tax rates are, and have long been, an irritant; of the 10 worst states on the Tax Foundation’s state business tax climate index, five are in the Northeast. Add to that such factors as unionization and government bureaucracy, and the pace of out-migration comes as no surprise.


MORE LIKE THIS

  • Get the CEO Briefing

    Sign up today to get weekly access to the latest issues affecting CEOs in every industry
  • upcoming events

    Roundtable

    Strategic Planning Workshop

    1:00 - 5:00 pm

    Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

    Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

    1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
    2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
    3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

     

    Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

    New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

    Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

    2:00 - 5:00 pm

    Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

    Limited space available.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

    Golf Outing

    10:30 - 5:00 pm
    General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
    Sponsored by UBS

    General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

    The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

    To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.