The 2011 Enterprising States study highlights state-driven initiatives to 1) redesign government, including measures to deal with excessive debt levels that inhibit economic growth and job creation and 2) implement forward-looking, enterprise-friendly initiatives with a primary goal of creating the conditions for job creation and future prosperity. Missouri remained at seventh this year on the tax and regulation list.
Missouri ranked better than 20th on all five measures, topping out eighth in cost of living and higher ed degree output. The other measures included business tax climate, state and local tax burden, budget gap, small business survival index, higher-ed efficiency, and median family income. The study noted that Missouri has enacted comprehensive reforms in its workers’ compensation system and enacted strong tort reform laws.