Utah first in 'Rich States' rankings

Utah has the best economic outlook in the nation, according to a study by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a membership organization of state legislators.

It was the third straight year for Utah to hold the top spot in the "Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitive Index" rankings.

The report presents state economic outlook rankings based on public policies that have a proven impact on growth, revealing which states have the best chance of experiencing economic recovery, and which need to re-examine their policies before they can expect to see improvement, ALEC said.

The report's authors analyzed how economic competitiveness drives income, population and job growth in the states. They found that states with a high and rising tax burden are more likely to drive away individuals and businesses, while those with lower and falling tax burdens are more likely to attract businesses and create jobs.

The report is available at www.alec.org.