Rich States, Poor States: Comparing State Economic Competitiveness

How do taxes, government spending, and labor policies affect a state's ability to attract residents, businesses, and investment? The 17th edition of Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index compares the economic outlook of all 50 states using 15 policy variables—including tax rates, government debt, workforce policies, and regulatory conditions.

Authored by Arthur B. Laffer, Stephen Moore, and Jonathan Williams, the report offers a valuable resource for examining how different state policy choices may influence economic growth and competitiveness. Wyoming residents, business leaders, and policymakers can use the findings to consider our state's strengths, identify potential challenges, and evaluate policies that could shape Wyoming's long-term prosperity.