Study: Red States Performed Better Than Blue States Economically From 1999 – 2010

An economic study of the states between 1999 and 2010 indicates that the more conservative a state is the better it has performed.

From Creighton University economist Ernie Goss:

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data show that in terms of the growth of the overall state economy, or Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 1999 and 2010, Red states grew by a median of 66.2% or significantly greater than Blue states at 52.2%, and Purple states at 60.5%. As for job additions over the same time period, Blue states again underperformed with a median growth of 0.2% compared to Red states’ expansion of 3.2% and Purple states’ of 3.3%. In terms of after- tax income per capita, the gap was substantial with Red states advancing by a median 52.3% compared to the much slower growth of Purple states at 46.1% and Blue states at 49.7%.

Moreover in terms of overall growth (GDP), 8 of the top 10 performing states were Red states while only 4 of the 10 bottom performing states were Red.

The “blue states” do have one thing going for them though. Their income levels are more even:

lue states tended to have a somewhat more evenly distributed income with a median Gini coefficient of 0.450 compared to Red and Purple states’ 0.455.

So blue states aren’t as well off economically as red states, but at least their subpar economic position is more equal.