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How CEOs Grade the Best/Worst States: 2013

Chief Executive

Chief Executive

Here's a look at how our CEOs graded the states for this year's survey. For additional reference are other important state statistics.

RATINGS1 DEVELOPMENT TREND INDICATOR
STATE TAXATION AND
REGULATION		 WORKFORCE
QUALITY		 LIVING DIRECTION COMMENT
Alabama 6.47 5.85 6.06 ↔ Pro-growth efforts overcome drag from federal cutbacks and Gulf oil spill.
Alaska 6.07 5.52 3.78 ↔ New business-friendly state senate curbed proposed tax and regulation boosts.
Arizona 6.95 7.10 7.94 ↑ This year sales tax expires and corporate income and property taxes fall.
Arkansas 6.31 5.72 5.86 ↔ Lots of pro-business talk but there’s not enough action in legislature.
California 1.58 6.02 7.00 ↓ Major income-tax hike in November hastens self-imposed economic decline.
Colorado 5.97 7.42 8.61 ↓ Anti-business forces won 2012 elections and are delivering on promises.
Connecticut 2.52 6.35 5.89 ↔ Trying to hold line on taxes and spending but solid-blue state lacks growth.
Delaware 7.27 6.82 7.45 ↓ Advancing regulatory reform but suffering perceptual hit from Dems’ control.
Florida 7.62 6.88 8.20 ↓ Business now assessing blow of Gov. Scott’s turnabout on Obamacare.
Georgia 6.83 7.24 7.60 ↓ Must still address deficiencies in infrastructure and education system.
Hawaii 2.49 4.07 7.63 ↔ Court struck down costly sick-leave law but replacement measure is unclear.
Idaho 7.57 7.53 8.55 ↔ Legislature finally appears moving toward eliminating personal-property tax.
Illinois 2.06 5.52 5.08 ↓ Keeps adding to toxic environment with new effort to boost minimum wage.
Indiana 7.53 7.67 7.46 ↔ Now trying to monetize friendlier profile resulting from right to work.
Iowa 6.17 7.34 6.80 ↓ Public-employee unions fight Gov. Branstad’s huge proposed property-tax cut.
Kansas 6.88 7.34 7.22 ↑ Slashed income taxes as part of Gov. Brownback’s strong pro-business push.
Kentucky 5.97 5.94 6.41 ↓ Blue-ribbon panel recommended service taxes and other business disincentives.
Louisiana 7.25 7.03 7.72 ↑ Beefing up workforce development to finally escape Katrina’s shadow.
Maine 3.14 4.86 6.05 ↓ Economically challenged state struggles to hold line on business penalties.
Maryland 3.45 5.89 5.93 ↓ Passed major tax increases, now may boost minimum wage and sick leave.
Massachusetts 2.65 6.54 5.57 ↓ Appears ready to boost income taxes and add services to sales tax.
Michigan 3.85 5.14 4.99 ↑ Leap to right-to-work follows business-tax overhaul, with more reforms likely.
Minnesota 3.97 7.76 7.15 ↔ Looking better to execs despite Gov. Dayton’s idea of big tax boosts.
Mississippi 5.70 4.54 4.76 ↓ Quality-of-workforce issues remain drag on economically sluggish state.
Missouri 5.80 6.52 6.40 ↓ Hasn’t done enough to spiff up for business, but considering right-to-work.
Montana 7.35 7.05 7.55 ↑ Success of worker’s-comp reforms leads to help on business-equipment taxes.
Nebraska 7.25 7.90 7.20 ↑ New budget surplus segues into push for comprehensive tax reform.
Nevada 7.69 6.33 6.44 ↔ Economic slack offers business opportunities, but legislature is hostile.
New Hampshire 6.68 6.92 7.28 ↔ Protecting status as overall tax haven of Northeast but seeking gas-tax rise.
New Jersey 2.81 5.82 4.54 ↑ At least now the debate is over which tax to cut rather than to cut or raise taxes.
New Mexico 4.63 5.05 6.94 ↑ Smiles at business by thwarting unions on bill regarding organizing drives.
New York 2.01 5.95 5.01 ↔ Gov. Cuomo seems to be less concerned now about business-friendliness.
North Carolina 7.08 7.76 8.26 ↔ Still needs to fix tax and regulatory issues that have been holding it back.
North Dakota 8.48 7.48 5.93 ↔ State stays out of way of booms in energy production and agriculture.
Ohio 5.31 6.74 6.25 ↑ Business appreciates Gov. Kasich’s help despite lots of legacy obstacles.
Oklahoma 7.32 7.27 6.93 ↑ Finally addressing worker’s-comp woes to add to business-friendly setting.
Oregon 3.48 6.46 7.02 ↔ Looks to tax and fee increases to finance yawning budget hole, but favors Nike.
Pennsylvania 3.43 5.91 5.83 ↑ Gov. Corbett has resisted tax hikes and instituted some regulatory reforms.
Rhode Island 2.69 4.62 5.31 ↔ Sky-high unemployment rate bespeaks continuing terrible business climate.
South Carolina 7.54 7.01 8.22 ↔ Remains business-friendly but must close its unemployment-fund deficit.
South Dakota 8.52 7.89 6.30 ↔ Resolute legislature has to keep knocking down efforts to boost sales taxes.
Tennessee 8.20 7.36 7.85 ↑ Prospect of worker’s compensation reform makes it shine even brighter.
Texas 8.72 8.06 7.82 ↑ Amazingly, the Lone Star State hasn’t let up and keeps building on its lead.
Utah 7.87 8.40 8.19 ↔ Consolidating pro-business rep with more cuts in taxes and regulations.
Vermont 2.53 4.76 5.71 ↔ Business fears new payroll tax to finance state’s outré single-payer health system.
Virginia 7.11 7.68 8.01 ↔ Business hails new infrastructure spending but not resulting tax increases.
Washington 4.38 6.63 6.84 ↔ Standoff between houses of legislature leaves financial reforms in the lurch.
West Virginia 5.43 5.33 5.11 ↔ Maintains pro-business stance as it seeks to solve fracking dilemma.
Wisconsin 5.59 7.41 7.24 ↑ Gov. Walker’s reelection was positive signal business leaders were seeking.
Wyoming 8.81 7.49 7.49 ↓ 10-cents-a-gallon fuel-tax hike wasn’t good sign in basically pro-business state.

 

STATE GDP2 UNEMPLOYMENT3
STATE % GROWTH
2010-2011		 % 2010–2011 GROWTH vs.
NAT’L AVERAGE
(1.5%)		 UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE %
DEC. 2012		 COMPARISON WITH
NATIONAL
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE %
(7.8)
Alabama -1.8% -2.3% 6.8 -1.0
Alaska 2.5% 1.0% 6.6 -1.2
Arizona 1.5% 0.0% 7.9 0.1
Arkansas 0.3% -1.2% 7.1 -0.7
California 2.0% 0.5% 9.8 2.0
Colorado 1.9% 0.4% 7.5 -0.3
Connecticut 2.0% 0.5% 8.2 0.4
Delaware 1.6% 0.1% 7.1 -0.7
Florida 0.5% -1.0% 7.9 0.1
Georgia 1.7% 0.2% 8.7 0.9
Hawaii -0.2% -1.7% 5.1 -2.7
Idaho 0.6% -0.9% 6.3 -1.5
Illinois 1.3% -0.2% 8.6 0.8
Indiana 1.1% -0.4% 8.3 0.5
Iowa 1.9% 0.4% 5 -2.8
Kansas 0.5% -1.0% 5.5 -2.3
Kentucky 0.5% -1.0% 8 0.2
Louisiana 0.5% -1.0% 5.6 -2.2
Maine -0.4% -1.9% 7.2 -0.6
Maryland 0.9% -0.6% 6.7 -1.1
Massachusetts 2.2% 0.7% 6.7 -1.1
Michigan 2.3% 0.8% 8.9 1.1
Minnesota 1.2% -0.3% 5.4 -2.4
Mississippi -0.8% -2.3% 8.9 1.1
Missouri 0.0% -1.5% 6.6 -1.2
Montana 0.0% -1.5% 5.6 -2.2
Nebraska 0.1% -1.4% 3.8 -4.0
Nevada 1.2% -0.3% 9.8 2.0
New Hampshire 1.5% 0.0% 5.7 -2.1
New Jersey -0.5% -2.0% 9.5 1.7
New Mexico 0.2% -1.3% 6.6 -1.2
New York 1.1% -0.4% 8.2 0.4
North Carolina 1.8% 0.3% 9.4 1.6
North Dakota 7.6% 6.1% 3.2 -4.6
Ohio 1.1% -0.4% 6.7 -1.1
Oklahoma 1.0% -0.5% 5.1 -2.7
Oregon 4.7% 3.2% 8.3 0.5
Pennsylvania 1.2% -0.3% 7.9 0.1
Rhode Island 0.8% -0.7% 9.9 2.1
South Carolina 1.2% -0.3% 8.6 0.8
South Dakota 0.8% -0.7% 4.3 -3.5
Tennessee 1.9% 0.4% 7.6 -0.2
Texas 3.3% 1.8% 6.2 -1.6
Utah 2.0% 0.5% 5.4 -2.4
Vermont 0.5% -1.0% 4.9 -2.9
Virginia 0.3% -1.2% 5.6 -2.2
Washington 2.0% 0.5% 7.5 -0.3
West Virginia 4.5% 3.0% 7.4 -0.4
Wisconsin 1.1% -0.4% 6.7 -1.1
Wyoming -1.2% -2.7% 4.9 -2.9

 

DOMESTIC MIGRATION4 STATE GOVERNMENT5 STATE-LOCAL TAX BURDEN6
STATE DOMESTIC NET MIGRATION
(2001-2009)		 RANK DEBT PER CAPITA
FISCAL YEAR
2010		 STATE & LOCAL
GOV’T EMPLOYEES
PER 10,000 RESIDENTS		 RATE COMPARED TO NATIONAL
AVERAGE (9.9%)
Alabama 87,199 14 1,841 615.3 8.33% -1.68%
Alaska -7,360 29 9,032 766.00 1.77% -2.89%
Arizona 696,793 3 2,188 473.07 9.12% -1.45%
Arkansas 75,163 16 1,464 585.3 8.58% 0.16%
California -1,490,105 50 4,008 504.6 8.11% 1.37%
Colorado 202,735 10 3,335 541.9 7.44% -0.77%
Connecticut -94,376 42 8,465 537.4 6.35% 2.41%
Delaware 45,424 18 6,157 598.8 0% -0.66%
Florida 1,154,213 1 2,155 489.5 6.62% -0.55%
Georgia 550,369 5 1,426 545.7 6.84% -0.9%
Hawaii -29,022 33 5,682 559.8 4.35% 0.24%
Idaho 110,279 13 2,478 538.6 6.02% -0.49%
Illinois -614,616 49 4,790 503.1 8.2% 0.34%
Indiana -21,467 32 3,650 536.3 7% -0.27%
Iowa -49,589 40 1,690 611.2 6.81% -0.28%
Kansas -67,762 41 2,276 676.7 8.26% -0.21%
Kentucky 81,711 15 3,323 582.7 6% -0.51%
Louisiana -311,368 45 3,861 605.1 8.85% -2.11%
Maine 29,260 23 4,542 580.7 5% 0.4%
Maryland -95,775 43 4,250 535.2 6% 0.33%
Massachussets -274,772 44 11,310 517.5 6.25% 0.57%
Michigan -537,471 48 3,251 491.0 6% -0.02%
Minnesota -46,635 39 2,206 541.8 7.18% 0.93%
Mississippi -36,061 35 2,182 647.7 7% -1.17%
Missouri 41,278 20 3,416 557.3 7.49% -0.91%
Montana 39,853 21 4,430 585.2 0% -1.25%
Nebraska -39,275 36 1,279 642.0 6.77% -0.17%
Nevada 361,512 6 1,646 431.9 7.93% -1.63%
New Hampshire 32,588 22 6,341 550.0 0% -1.76%
New Jersey -451,407 47 6,944 593.0 6.97% 2.56%
New Mexico 26,383 24 4,261 680.4 7.24% -1.42%
New York -1,649,644 51 6,694 634.5 8.48% 2.9%
North Carolina 663,892 4 1,983 599.7 6.85% -0.05%
North Dakota -18,071 31 3,282 649.5 6.39% -0.96%
Ohio -361,038 46 2,703 534.6 6.75% -0.15%
Oklahoma 42,284 19 2,664 597.9 8.66% -1.13%
Oregon 177,375 11 3,533 509.2 0% 0.1%
Pennsylvania -33,119 34 3,526 478.4 6.34% 0.38%
Rhode Island -45,159 38 9,018 510.8 7% 0.99%
South Carolina 306,045 7 3,419 577.2 7.13% -1.49%
South Dakota 7,182 27 4,291 545.7 5.39% -2.28%
Tennessee 259,711 8 922 527.8 9.45% -2.15%
Texas 838,126 2 1,679 563.9 8.14% -1.93%
Utah 53,390 17 2,356 494.9 6.68% -0.58%
Vermont -1,505 28 5,585 641.0 6.14% 0.25%
Virginia 164,930 12 3,131 574.0 5% -0.61%
Washington 239,037 9 4,098 527.3 8.8 -0.57%
West Virginia 17,727 26 3,860 558.5 6% -0.15%
Wisconsin -11,981 30 3,929 503.0 5.43% 1.21%
Wyoming 22,883 25 2,694 918.3 5.34% -2.09%

Sources: Sources: 1Chief Executive Magazine, 2Bureau of Economic Analysis, 3Bureau of Labor Statistics, 4NewGeography.com, 5,6The Tax Foundation

2013 Best & Worst States for Business Links

2013 Best & Worst States for Business – Homepage
States More Aggressive in Competing With One Another
California Dreaming
Playing the Incentives Game
8 State Advocate CEOs
How CEOs Grade the States
Click here to see a slideshow of the 10 Best States for Business in 2013
Click here to see a slideshow of the 10 Worst States for Business in 2013


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