43. Mississippi

The Magnolia State is the cheapest to live in and second cheapest for business. But innovation and economic strength are lacking.

Category
Score
2015 Rank
2014 Rank
Workforce 228 21 17
Cost of Doing Business 259 2 (Tie) 4
Infrastructure 195 23 (Tie) 31
Economy 81 50 26
Quality of Life 113 39 38
Technology & Innovation 59 48 47
Education 53 47 (Tie) 48
Business Friendliness 15 48 (Tie) 49
Cost of Living 75 1 6
Access to Capital 18 33 (Tie) 31
Overall 1096 43 36

Economic Profile

Governor: Phil Bryant, Republican

Population: 2,994,079

GDP growth: -1.2 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2015): 6.7 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 5 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 5 percent

Gasoline tax: 37 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aa2/stable

Major private employer: Nissan North America Inc.

Economic profile sources: Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute, Moody's Investor Service, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Harrison County Development Commission

FULL LIST: 2015 TOP STATES FOR BUSINESS

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