Best States for Business: #3
Texas
Open for Business Index Score: 87.05
Texas is the third state on our Open for Business Index. The top three states scored within 0.4 points of one another, so close they are approximately tied. Rocketing the Lone Star State to the top ranks on our index was the state’s best-in-the-nation score in infrastructure, and near top scores for its tax burden, percent of union representation, and cost of living. Better than average scores for tort law and cost of employing labor also served to boost Texas. The state scored near average for government as a percent of the state’s economy. The state needs improvement in health and education, where it scored near the bottom.
Worst States for Business: #3
Connecticut
Open for Business Index Score: 58.6
Connecticut was tied with #4 New York as one of the worst states in the nation for business. Perhaps Connecticut’s lousy business climate is the reason billionaire hedge fund manager Eddie Lampert moved his firm, ESL Investments Inc. to Florida earlier this year from Greenwich (Ed Note: Florida is ranked 10th on our Open for Business Index). Connecticut scored terribly in almost every category, coming in near the bottom in taxes, percent of employees represented by unions, cost of living, cost of employing labor, size of government, infrastructure and tort law. The Nutmeg state also came in below average in education. The one standout for Connecticut was a near top rank for health among its citizens.
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