(The Center Square) – Ohio ranked exactly average in economic outlook in the American Legislative Exchange Council’s new rankings.
The 18th edition of the ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index “Rich States, Poor States” report showed Ohio was 25th in economic outlook, a spot better than a year ago but five spots worse than 2023 and six below 2022.
ALEC is an association of state lawmakers focused on free markets, small markets and federalism, according to its website.
Despite the steady fall over the past three years, ALEC President and Chief Economist Jonathan Williams praised the Buckeye State for its economic push over the past two decades.
“Ohio is at 25th and has some incredible upward mobility. In the first edition of Rich States, Poor States, Ohio was in the bottom five for economic outlook,” Williams said. The state was down and out when it came to its policy environment. If you go back 40 years, Ohio had been a net out-migration state every single year – for four decades – up until recently, when they finally started to go positive again and turned the corner. We’ve seen them cut taxes dramatically.”
Ohio ranked first in estate/inheritance tax levied and in the top 10 in average worker compensation costs (fourth), top corporate income tax rate (sixth) and tort system costs (eighth).
However, the group ranked it last because it is not a right-to-work state, 40th in debt service as a share of tax revenue and 38th in personal income tax progressivity.
Among its neighboring states, Ohio ranked behind Indiana (third) and West Virginia (16th) but ahead of Kentucky (27th) and Pennsylvania (36th).
