Texas still the best for business, CEO study says

Houston Business Journal

For the fourth year in succession Texas has been named by Chief Executive magazine as the best state in which to do business.

The magazine ranks states on what it terms “a broad range of issues” including natural resources, regulation, tax policies, quality of living, education and infrastructure.

Texas received top ratings for both transportation and economy, and was also noted for its access to capital and technology and innovation.

Following Texas were North Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. The worst states in which to do business, according to the study, are California, New York, Michigan, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

The magazine's list was based on surveys from 543 CEOs.

The magazine said states that perform well in the rankings tend to have lower taxes and low rates of unionization.

“Our survey, year-over-year proves that those states with the worst records continue to practice the same policies that alienate businesses,” JP Donlon, editor-in-chief of Chief Executive magazine, said in a statement. “As the nation's economic problems continue to snowball and an increasing number of states experience budgetary problems, state governments ought to take a hard look at their taxation and unionization policies if they want to turn the page and attract new businesses and capital to their provinces.”