, Columnist
The West Virginia Productivity Miracle. Really!
The state has a brighter future than you might expect from reading all the tales of woe.
The future is sweeter than you think.
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
After so many articles on America’s troubled Appalachian region, how about a contrarian view? These days, when I hear talk of the economic problems in, say, West Virginia, I think instead of the West Virginia productivity miracle, and I wonder how such an impressive achievement could be possible. I know that sounds crazy, but bear with me.
The per capita income of West Virginia is about $37,000 a year, which makes it one of the poorest states in the union. Still, at about three-quarters of the national average, that’s higher than many people expect. And because it is cheaper to live in West Virginia than where most Americans live, the per capita income is higher when adjusted for purchasing power parity.