Some states appear to be much more successful than others are at achieving it.
Texas and West Virginia had very slow growth, while Florida, Georgia, and Virginia achieved extremely high growth rates. However, Louisiana and Oklahoma experienced economic declines during the decade. Governors from across the political spectrum are searching for ways to reduce tax burdens and improve education in order to enhance their state's economic growth. At the same time, due to the need to be globally competitive, firms are seeking places with low-cost labor. In it, factors affecting the competitiveness of each of these states are empirically tested for their significance.