Study: Alabama is one of the worst-run states in the country

Alabama is one of the worst-run states in the country, according to a new ranking by 24/7 Wall St.

For many Alabamians this may not come as too much of a surprise. The national attention the state has received in recent months has revolved around the scandals currently engrossing the heads of all three branches of our state government. But 24/7 Wall Street took a deeper look into the reasons why Alabama is not being run well. According to their list, Alabama is the fifth-worst run state in the country.

Data was collected on each state’s debt per capita, credit rating, unemployment rate, household income, and poverty rate. Alabama’s low social and economic data pushed the Yellowhammer State down to 46 out of 50. The state has the fourth lowest median household income, $42,830 – significantly lower than the national average of $53,657, and nearly 20% of Alabama residents live below the poverty line, the fourth highest percentage in the country. The state’s unemployment rate – 5.9% – is one of the ten highest unemployment rates in the U.S.

Although Alabama has seen some significant economic growth in recent years, it still pales in comparison to the rest of the country. In 2014, the national economy grew by 2.2% while Alabama only grew by 0.7%.

24/7 Wall Street has published this list for the past six years, and Alabama has had a roller coaster ride throughout the process. On the first list in 2010, Alabama was the 39th best-run state. Our ranking improved over the next two years, coming in at No. 36 in 2011 and No. 28 in 2012. After that, Alabama took a sharp turn back down the list, landing at No. 40 in 2013, No. 41 in 2014, to its current position at No. 46 in the latest list.

Rhode Island, Mississippi, Illinois, and New Mexico round out the bottom five of this year’s list, and North Dakota, Wyoming, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota make up the five best-run states in the country. North Dakota has been the best-run state in the country on 24/7 Wall Street’s list for the past four years.