MIssissippi's turn

A cursory glance at Mississippi's vital economic statistics do not paint a dreary picture.

"In 2006 Mississippi had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $26,908. This PCPI ranked 50th in the United States and was 73 percent of the national average, $36,629. The 2006 PCPI reflected an increase of 5.7 percent from 2005. The 2005-2006 national change was 5.6 percent. In 1996 the PCPI of Mississippi was $17,702 and ranked 50th in the United States." Source

"Earnings of persons employed in Mississippi increased from $51,161,429 in 2005 to $53,731,381 in 2006, an increase of 5.0 percent. The 2005-2006 national change was 5.7 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1996 estimate of $34,555,092 to the 2006 estimate was 4.5 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.5 percent." (Same source)

"In 2006 Mississippi had a total personal income (TPI) of $78,317,451. This TPI ranked 34th in the United States. In 1996 the TPI of Mississippi was $48,646,260 and ranked 33rd in the United States. The 2006 TPI reflected an increase of 5.8 percent from 2005. The 2005-2006 national change was 6.6 percent. The 1996-2006 average annual growth rate of TPI was 4.9 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent." (Ditto)

That being said...

- At $34,278, the median household income in Mississippi was only 64% of the national average ($44,334) - which ranks it last in that category.
- 19.3% of population in 2004 was under the poverty line as compared to the national average of 12.7%. (Source)

The state's unemployment rate and total number of people in the labor pool has also been respectable. As of November 2007, the state's unemployment rate was 6.3% (the national rate is 4.7%).

Mississippi does not have a minimum wage law.

All in all, while Mississippi has lagged behind national averages in growth, simply put, it has grown. Michigan, on the other hand, was the only state in the union to register a negative change in real GDP in 2006 (-0.5% to MS' 2.5%). Michigan also spilled red ink in 2004 with a -0.8 change in real GDP. So while Michigan brought up the rear in percent change, Mississippi was 35th and in the black.

Michigan does fare far better in per capita real GDP than Mississippi (89% to 64%), but what this probably means is that there is no middle class; executives make a lot while blue collar workers and the unemployed squeak by. Not that the Michigan execs aren't safe; per capita real GDP there was 96% just the other day, in 2003. More tellingly, Michigan's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has risen from 4.7% in January 1997 to 7.4% in November 2007.

Michigan has also slipped in its total current-dollar GDP to the nation's pot from 3.3% in 2003 to 2.9% in 2006. Mississippi has remained relatively steady at 0.6% during that time. Hell, the state treasurer's report for October 2007 was down-right glum including the subtitle, "October 2007 Unemployment Rates Rose in All Major Michigan Labor Market Areas" with Monroe taking the week-old cake at 8.2%.

How do these figures impact the story? Well, a couple Africans trying to jump-start a consistently third-tier economy which few expect much from isn't as ballsy as them trying to give CPR to a former workhorse and point of national pride that's reeling.