Six States Worse Run Than NM

According to an annual survey from 247wallst.com, six states are worse run than New Mexico. That is to say, New Mexico ranks 44th on the site's annual survey of how well states are run.

In order, the states following New Mexico are: Nevada, New Jersey, Arizona, Illinois, Rhode Island and California.

North Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Utah and Iowa are the five best run states. Interesting that four of the five border one another. Our friends in Mississippi are 40th.

44. New Mexico
> Debt per capita: $4,261 (15th highest)
> Budget deficit: 9.1% (tied-39th largest)
> Unemployment: 7.4% (tied-18th lowest)
> Median household income: $41,963 (8th lowest)
> Pct. below poverty line: 21.5% (2nd highest)

While New Mexico’s unemployment rate of 7.4% was 1.5 percentage points below the national figure, the average citizen isn’t that well off. New Mexico had the second-highest poverty rate in the country in 2011, with 21.5% of residents living below the poverty line. The state exported just $1,003 worth of goods per capita in 2011, the second lowest amount of all states.

The state currently has some challenges, much of which are beyond its control. It has spent significant resources putting out a massive outbreak of wildfires this summer. Another concern for New Mexico is the fiscal cliff, which could hit the state especially hard due to its heavy reliance — compared to most states — on federal spending.

Find the entire report at: The Best and Worst Run States in America: A Survey of All 50 - 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/2012/11/27/the-best-and-worst-run-states-in-america-a-survey-of-all-50/#ixzz2DeK0Bv83