Evidence from the 50 U.S. States, 2000-2025

We asked ourselves, does the political orientation of an electorate really make any difference when it comes to economic growth in the United States? Do states with a strong Republican (Red State) orientation have greater or lesser rates of economic growth than ones with a Democratic (Blue State) political leadership? More broadly, do public policies implemented at the state and local level really have much impact on thelevel of economic vitality and public prosperity?

To do a quick preliminary analysis of the issue, we looked at the growth in personal income in the United States in roughly the first quarter of this century, 2000-2024, classifying the states as “Red” or “Blue.”