Top 10 Best Fiscally Managed States nd 10 Worst Fiscally Managed States in 2018

[mikegriffith1]

Each year the Mercatus Center at George Mason University analyzes the fiscal health of the states and ranks them from 1 to 50 based on the criteria of cash reserves, budget solvency, long-run solvency, service-level solvency, debt, and pension stability. Eight of the 10 best fiscally managed states are red states, and one of the two remaining best states has a veto-proof Republican majority in the legislature that has already overridden several of the Democratic governor's vetoes. Eight of the 10 worst states are blue states. Most of the states ranked between 11th and 20th are red states.

Top 10 (from first to tenth)

Nebraska
South Dakota
Tennessee
Florida
Oklahoma
Wyoming
Idaho
Utah
North Carolina (blue governor, red legislature with veto-proof majority)
Nevada (blue)

Bottom 10 (from 50th to 40th)

Illinois
Connecticut
New Jersey
Massachusetts
Kentucky (red)
New Mexico
Delaware
West Virginia (red)
California
New York
Rhode Island

Here's the report:

State Fiscal Rankings

 

[kyzr]

Pity the red guys can't do a better job with the Federal finances...

 

[mdk]

Correction: The Governor of West Virginia is a Republican.

 

[mikegriffith1]

Correction: The Governor of West Virginia is a Republican.

Ah, you're right. He used to be a Democrat, but then he switched. OP corrected accordingly.

 

[mdk]

Correction: The Governor of West Virginia is a Republican.

Ah, you're right. He used to be a Democrat, but then he switched. OP corrected accordingly.

No worries. We all make mistakes. I am reminded daily by my spouse.

 

[BluesLegend]

And the exodus from Dem destroyed blue states continues with people moving to red states. The problem is they bring their stupid blue state tax and spend policies with them and begin wrecking the red state.

 

[alang1216]

Each year the Mercatus Center at George Mason University analyzes the fiscal health of the states and ranks them from 1 to 50 based on the criteria of cash reserves, budget solvency, long-run solvency, service-level solvency, debt, and pension stability. Eight of the 10 best fiscally managed states are red states, and one of the two remaining best states has a veto-proof Republican majority in the legislature that has already overridden several of the Democratic governor's vetoes. Eight of the 10 worst states are blue states. Most of the states ranked between 11th and 20th are red states.

Top 10 (from first to tenth)

Nebraska
South Dakota
Tennessee
Florida
Oklahoma
Wyoming
Idaho
Utah
North Carolina (blue governor, red legislature with veto-proof majority)
Nevada (blue)

Bottom 10 (from 50th to 40th)

Illinois
Connecticut
New Jersey
Massachusetts
Kentucky (red)
New Mexico
Delaware
West Virginia (red)
California
New York
Rhode Island

Here's the report:

State Fiscal Rankings

Oddly enough, the only state on this list to make it into TOP STATES FOR BUSINESS list is Massachusetts (also in the top 10 for quality of life)

 

[Oldstyle]

Each year the Mercatus Center at George Mason University analyzes the fiscal health of the states and ranks them from 1 to 50 based on the criteria of cash reserves, budget solvency, long-run solvency, service-level solvency, debt, and pension stability. Eight of the 10 best fiscally managed states are red states, and one of the two remaining best states has a veto-proof Republican majority in the legislature that has already overridden several of the Democratic governor's vetoes. Eight of the 10 worst states are blue states. Most of the states ranked between 11th and 20th are red states.

Top 10 (from first to tenth)

Nebraska
South Dakota
Tennessee
Florida
Oklahoma
Wyoming
Idaho
Utah
North Carolina (blue governor, red legislature with veto-proof majority)
Nevada (blue)

Bottom 10 (from 50th to 40th)

Illinois
Connecticut
New Jersey
Massachusetts
Kentucky (red)
New Mexico
Delaware
West Virginia (red)
California
New York
Rhode Island

Here's the report:

State Fiscal Rankings

Oddly enough, the only state on this list to make it into TOP STATES FOR BUSINESS list is Massachusetts (also in the top 10 for quality of life)

Oddly enough...Massachusetts...despite being as liberal a State as there is...has a long history of periodically electing Republican Governors to "fix" the States finances. It seems the citizens of Massachusetts are both liberal...and smart!

 

[depotoo]

Actually-

Here are the 10 most tax-friendly states for business by overall rankings:

1. Wyoming
2. South Dakota
3. Alaska
4. Florida
5. Nevada
6. Montana
7. New Hampshire
8. Indiana
9. Utah
10. Oregon

3 are blue, one of which just turned blue this year, by governors.
10 Most and Least Tax-Friendly States for Business

Each year the Mercatus Center at George Mason University analyzes the fiscal health of the states and ranks them from 1 to 50 based on the criteria of cash reserves, budget solvency, long-run solvency, service-level solvency, debt, and pension stability. Eight of the 10 best fiscally managed states are red states, and one of the two remaining best states has a veto-proof Republican majority in the legislature that has already overridden several of the Democratic governor's vetoes. Eight of the 10 worst states are blue states. Most of the states ranked between 11th and 20th are red states.

Top 10 (from first to tenth)

Nebraska
South Dakota
Tennessee
Florida
Oklahoma
Wyoming
Idaho
Utah
North Carolina (blue governor, red legislature with veto-proof majority)
Nevada (blue)

Bottom 10 (from 50th to 40th)

Illinois
Connecticut
New Jersey
Massachusetts
Kentucky (red)
New Mexico
Delaware
West Virginia (red)
California
New York
Rhode Island

Here's the report:

State Fiscal Rankings

Oddly enough, the only state on this list to make it into TOP STATES FOR BUSINESS list is Massachusetts (also in the top 10 for quality of life)

 

[DGS49]

Consider: Virtually every state has a "constitutional" mandate for a BALANCED BUDGET. That is to say, they must pay for their operations as they go.

But Leftist states play games with this mandate, issuing bonds to pay for daily operations rather than living within their means. Also, they tend to PURCHASE the votes of government employees - mainly teachers, who vote and are politically active - with high salaries and generous pensions, which unfortunately do not have to be funded under the constitutional constraints.

So we are all fucked, and many states are, in fact, bankrupt. Over the foreseeable future, essentially all increases in state "education" spending will be consumed with pension and retiree healthcare costs.

 

[my2¢]

Interesting and well presented. I like this stuff when it is by reputable folks and I sure have no reason to question the reputation of George Mason University. I'd like to see something similar for countries of the world.

 

[mikegriffith1]

Interesting and well presented. I like this stuff when it is by reputable folks and I sure have no reason to question the reputation of George Mason University. I'd like to see something similar for countries of the world.

There are several groups that do this. One of them is Economy Watch:

Country Profiles, Country Reports, Country Economies, Country Economics, Economic Profiles, World Country Reports | Economy Watch

The Heritage Foundation does something like this too:

Country Rankings: World & Global Economy Rankings on Economic Freedom