As the nation’s “joyless recovery” limps along, the question for many people in Wisconsin is how the state stacks up to others.
Based on a range of rankings and indicators, the answer is a definite … who the heck really knows?
There’s a reason why economics is half-seriously called “the dismal science.” Precision often rests on interpreting data based on estimates, projections and measures rooted in a subjective analysis. That doesn’t mean the answers are wrong, but they can be varied and reflective of different starting points.
That’s why Wisconsin can show up well in some state-by-state rankings of economic activity and competitiveness – and not so favorably in others.
