In contrast to North Carolina's status as "State Most Eager to Hand Out Corporate Welfare" errr, I mean Site Selection's Top Business Climate, Suffolk University's Beacon Hill Institute ranked North Carolina 27th in their 2008 State Competitive Index.
Dragging NC's ranking down?
"The state’s weakest categories were environmental policy (42nd), security (41st) and human resources (39th). Factors in those poor scores included low rankings for air quality and the percentage of the population with health insurance."
Kind of makes you wonder why Bev Purdue wanted to claim the mantle of "health care leader" of the last 8 years during her campaign. But no matter, she won anyway.
Where did NC score the highest?
"The strongest category for North Carolina in the survey was business incubation. The state scored ninth best in this segment, thanks in part to a No. 1 ranking for low union membership among the Tar Heel labor force."
Legislators should keep this in mind when they convene in late January, as NC's right to work status will continue to be under assault. Increasing union power over the labor market will serve to hurt North Carolina's competitiveness – just ask Detroit.
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