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ALEC in the Deseret News: Why Utah leaders call this economic ranking for the state ‘monumental’

“It is monumental. With interest rates rising, with inflation on the horizon, this speaks very well for Utah’s future. And even with some of those issues, our future is bright. It’s been bright in the past, and it’s equally as bright right now. Fifteen is a really good number. It’s amazing that we could be No. 1 for 15 years in a row.”

Utah’s economic outlook tops the nation for 15 years in a row

By Katie McKellar Apr 18, 2022

For the 15th year in a row, Utah has again been ranked top of the U.S. for its economic forecast.

As it has for the last 14 years, Utah is again the No. 1 state in the nation for its economic outlook, according to the American Legislative Exchange Council’s new “Rich States, Poor States” report released Monday.

“It is monumental,” Adams, R-Layton, told the Deseret News in an interview Monday, praising the three economists — Arthur Laffer, Stephen Moore and Jonathan Williams — who wrote the report.

“With interest rates rising, with inflation on the horizon, this speaks very well for Utah’s future. And even with some of those issues, our future is bright,” Adams said. “It’s been bright in the past, and it’s equally as bright right now. Fifteen is a really good number. It’s amazing that we could be No. 1 for 15 years in a row.”

The economic outlook rankings are forecasts based on states’ standings in 15 policy variables, including tax rates, debt service, tax spending limits, liability, union laws and more. Generally, states that spend less and tax less see higher growth rates than states that tax and spend more, the report states.

ALEC describes itself as “America’s largest nonpartisan organization of state legislators dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets and federalism.”

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