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Arizona apparently deserves its reputatation as a mecca for low-paying jobs, ranking 40th in an economic analysis among states for per-capita income.
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reports, according to the Biz Journal this morning, that the average income for state residents if $34,999 — “well below the national average of $40,584.”
It could always be worse. Thankfully, the deep south and other western states keep Arizona from settling to the bottom. Advancing a smidgen up the ladder since 2009, we beat out the likes of Indiana, Kentucky and — at No. 50 — the Third World state of Mississippi.
We should strive to do better. A neat comparison of state economies in a January Economist piece shows that Arizona’s country-equivalent, going by gross domestic product and other factors, is Thailand.
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While it’s astounding to think Arizona as a whole is as rich as a country with ten times the population, it’s all relative. California, (12th on the per-capita list despite its budget problems) matches with Italy in the Economist comparison.
Yeah, we’d trade a rice bowl for a meaty panini.
