• Cost of Doing Business Index (2005)
    Best South Dakota 71.9 with 100 being average
    Worst Hawaii 143.1 with 100 being average

  • Unemployment Rate (July 2006)
    Best Hawaii, Wyoming 3%
    Worst Michigan 7%

  • State Business Tax Climate (2006)
    Best Wyoming (1 out of the 50 states)
    Worst Rhode Island (48 out of the 50 states)

  • Top Corporate Income Tax Rates (2005)
    Best South Dakota, Wyoming 0%
    Worst Pennsylvania 9.99%

  • Venture Capital Investments (2002--2005)
    Best California $37.3 billion
    Worst Wyoming $5.6 million

  • Percentage of People Without Health Insurance (2002--2004 average)
    Best Hawaii 9.9% of the population is uninsured
    Worst Texas 25.1% of the population is uninsured

  • Total School Spending per Pupil (2005)
    Best Vermont $11,128
    Worst Arizona $6,036

    Sources: (from top) The Milken Institute, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Tax Foundation, CCH, Seed and Venture Capital state report, AcademyHealth, and the U.S. Census Bureau.