Some statistics to ponder

Most of you who know me know that I'm a map geek. From time to time, I'll post maps of data showing how Arkansas measures up on issues important to Arkansawyers (there you go, Delphi). I think it's important for the legislature to keep an eye on our ranking among the states in order to develop our goals. It's no secret that we rank at or near the bottom on several key matters, including per capita income and several educational rankings.

Here is an Arkansas report card (with 2006 numbers) showing our rank among the 50 states:

1. Change in uninsured low income children;
1. Five year change in new companies
4. Mass layoffs
8. Recycling rate
10. Energy costs
41. Voting rate
43. Heart Disease
44. High school attainment
45. Average annual pay
46. Teen pregnancy
47. Academic research and development
49. College attainment
49. Households with computers
50. Poverty rate (ouch -- thank God for Arkansas?)

I know that the poverty rate ranking is one reason that the recent hike in the minimum wage in Arkansas sailed through the legislature. I know there are pros and cons to that issue, but there is no doubt that Arkansas had to do something drastic to change that ranking.

Many of these other rankings deal with the "chicken and egg problem" we face here in the state: building a nationally ranked reputation with our higher education institutions (especially the 11 four-year institutions and our flagship university) and attracting economic development. We always hear that we can't have a UNC/UVA-type public institution that will only outsource our talent to Tulsa, Dallas, and Memphis because of the lack of jobs here. On the other hand, we can't attract businesses that are seeking an educated workforce. I think we'll continue to make progress with these issues (see UA 2010 commission, fanfare surrounding new ADED appointee Maria Haley, etc.), and there's no doubt that it takes time to change these rankings.

Update for Betsey: our friend Betsey Wright wanted to see a map of where we rank as far as our rate of incarceration. We rank 12th and are surrounded by Top 5 states Louisiana (1), Texas (2), Mississippi (3), and Oklahoma (4). Click the map to make it bigger.