42. Arkansas

Your money will go far in the Natural State, but it also buys poor quality of life, including high crime and poor health.

Arkansas State Flag Grunge Wooden Background
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Category
Score
2019 Rank
2018 Rank
Grade
Workforce 203 39 43 D-
Economy 157 36 39 D+
Infrastructure 189 20 12 B-
Cost of Doing Business 252 3 1 A+
Quality of Life 76 50 50 F
Education 72 41 42 D
Technology & Innovation 50 44 47 F
Business Friendliness 66 37 40 D+
Access to Capital 26 33 36 D+
Cost of Living 48 3 2 A+
Overall 1139 42 40 -

Economic Profile

Governor: Asa Hutchinson, Republican

Population: 3,013,825

GDP growth (Q4 2018): 1.5%

Unemployment rate (May 2019): 3.6%

Top corporate tax rate: 6.5%

Top individual income tax rate: 6.9%

Gasoline tax: 21.80 cents/gallon

Bond rating: (Moody's/S&P): Aa1, stable/AA, stable

Major private employers: Tyson Foods, Wal-Mart Stores

Economic profile sources: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute (excluding 18.40 cent/gallon federal tax), Moody's Investor Service, S&P Global Market Intelligence