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Resource Library

Background Literature
General Business Climate Studies
Tax Burden Studies
High Tech Business Climate Studies

Background Literature

  • Keeping Washington Competitive, The Need for a Healthy Business Climate (Oct. 2000) (PDF file -- requires Acrobat Reader available at Adobe Web site)
    Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy
    Assessment by the business community of infrastructure, education, tax and regulatory structures, and quality of life in Washington.
    Washington rank: No composite rank

  • Washington rankings on Relevant Measures from Various Studies (2000) (Excel file -- requires Excel viewer available at Microsoft Web site)
    Washington State Department of Revenue
    One-page summary of various measures and how Washington ranks relative to the national average.
    Washington rank: No composite rank

  • Statewide Strategic Plan for Economic Vitality (2001) (PDF file -- requires Acrobat Reader available at Adobe Web site)
    Washington State Office of Trade and Economic Development
    Goals and strategies intended to provide a framework for the public sector (in both a lead and supporting role) to promote and maintain economic vitality in Washington.
    Washington rank: N/A

General Business Climate Studies

  • Washington State Economic Climate Study (Sept. 2001) (PDF file -- requires Acrobat Reader available at Adobe Web site)
    Washington State Office of the Forecast Council
    Data and benchmarks to compare Washington's quality of life, education and skills of the workforce, infrastructure, and cost of doing business with other states and national averages.
    Washington rank: No composite rank

  • Development Report Card for the States 2000
    Corporation for Enterprise Development
    Annual assessment of each state's economy and potential for future growth based upon more than 70 data measures in the areas of performance, business vitality and development capacity Detail of Washington's report card is available.
    Washington rank: Performance -- B, Vitality -- A, Capacity -- A

  • Small Business Survival Index 2001: Ranking the Policy Environment for Entrepreneurship Across the Nation (Oct. 2000) (PDF file -- requires Acrobat Reader available at Adobe Web site)
    Raymond Keating, Small Business Survival Committee
    Ranks small business survival based on 17 government-imposed or government-related costs impacting small businesses and entrepreneurs for all states.
    Washington rank: Overall -- 3rd

  • The Metropolitan New Economy Index (April 2001)
    Progressive Policy Institute
    Assessment and comparison of 16 indicators to measure characteristics of the New Economy (globalization, economic dynamism and competition, transformation to a digital economy and innovation capacity) for the 50 largest U.S. metro areas, including Seattle.
    Washington rank: Seattle overall -- 3rd

  • The State New Economy Index (July 1999)
    Progressive Policy Institute
    Assessment and comparison of 17 indicators to measure characteristics of the New Economy (globalization, economic dynamism and competition, transformation to a digital economy and innovation capacity) for 50 states.
    Washington rank: Overall -- 4th

  • State Index: Business Retention: Survival and Growth (available only by purchase)
    BizMiner
    Tracks firms nationwide and measures retention rate, survivor sales growth, survivor job growth and job replenishment.
    Washington rank: Overall -- 43rd

  • In Search of the Good Life, "Competitiveness" and Well-Being in British Columbia and Washington State (June 2001)
    Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-BC Office
    Comparative study of taxes, public spending and private costs, social inequality, and working conditions in Washington and British Columbia.
    Washington rank: BC advantage

  • Economic Freedom in America's 50 States: A 1999 Analysis (PDF file -- requires Acrobat Reader available at Adobe Web site)
    Clemson University: John Byars, Robert McCormick, Bruce Yandle
    Composite index of "economic freedom," the right of individuals to pursue their own interests through voluntary exchange under a rule of law, for all states. More than 100 measures, including government spending, regulation, welfare, school choice, taxation, and the judicial system, are used.
    Washington rank: Overall -- 40th, Regulatory -- 45th

  • North American Business Cost Review (2000) (available only by purchase)
    Economy.com
    Ranks relative costs of doing business (unit labor costs, effective tax burdens and energy costs) by state and major cities relative to the national average.
    Washington rank: Overall -- 20th, Unit Labor -- 7th, Energy -- 50th, Taxes -- 6th

Tax Burden Studies

  • Comparative State and Local Taxes (1999)
    Washington State Department of Revenue
    Measures tax burdens by ranking state and local taxes per $1,000 of personal income and per capita in 1998.
    Washington rank: Per $1000 -- 17th, Per Capita -- 13th

  • Overall Tax Burdens by State (2001)
    Tax Foundation
    Ranks state and local taxes as a percent of income.
    Washington rank: 17th

  • Western States' Tax Burdens: Fiscal Year 1999-2000
    Utah State Tax Commission, Economic and Statistical Unit
    Ranks taxes paid by businesses and households for the 11 western states.
    Washington rank: Businesses -- 1st, Households -- 7th

High Tech Business Climate Studies

  • Washington Index of Innovation and Technology (2001)
    Washington Technology Center
    Measures the relationship between the prosperity and vitality of Washington, its residents and the innovation and technology drivers of the economy with indicators in innovation, competitiveness, growth, financial capacity, human potential and quality of life.
    Washington rank: No composite rank

  • Cyberstates 2001 (available only by purchase)
    AeA and The Nasdaq Stock Market
    A state-by-state overview of the high-technology industry detailing national and state trends in employment, wages and exports. Venture capital investments, research and development expenditures, and computer and Internet home use are also examined. The report includes state rankings for each indicator.