Louisiana’s Place in the New Economy & the New South
Since 1994 the Council for A Better Louisiana through its People’s Agenda project has been asking citizens about their priorities for our state. Our goal has been to find out what issues concern them most, where we need to focus as a state, and how effective they believe state government has been in addressing their concerns. Over the years, their answers have not been surprising. People want a quality public education system, opportunities for their children, jobs that pay a good wage and elected leaders who act ethically and focus on the things that will make Louisiana a better place to live. On a regular basis we compile this information and publish it as a “report card” from the people rating the performance of state government.
In 2000 we expanded on this effort. CABL developed a list of more than 30 indicators which, taken as a whole, offer a snapshot of the quality of life in Louisiana. From education and jobs to health and income, they tell us things we need to know about the vitality of our state. Part of our emphasis has been on Louisiana’s relationship with other states in the South, that are both our neighbors and our competitors. We want citizens and state leaders to have a realistic picture of where we stand in comparison to states that look a lot like us and face similar challenges.
This year we also want to learn from their successes. With data from the census and other sources, we look at the economic changes that have occurred in the South leading into this new century. Where does the South stand? Where does Louisiana stand? Where do we go from here?
We also offer a list of recommendations – 10 things Louisiana can do in this decade to improve our economic well- being. As this report will show, Louisiana faces many challenges, but they are not beyond our means to overcome them.
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