Weekly Perspective

May 20, 2024

Which state looks the most like the United States?

Fifty states joined the Union from 1787 through 1959. Every one of them has a distinct history and culture. States’ names originated from Latin, English, Spanish, French, Polynesian, Algonquian, Siouan, Iroquoian, Uto-Aztecan, and other languages. In Alabama, there are deep sea fishing rodeos and in Arizona there are sidewalk egg-frying contests. In Georgia, they like salted peanuts in cola, and in Michigan they call soda “pop.” Nebraska cheers for the Cornhuskers, while Oregon flies with the Ducks.

There are a lot of differences between U.S. states, but which state is most like the United States? That’s the question Lenny Bronner and Andrew Van Dam of The Washington Post wanted to answer. Bronner crunched U.S. Census data to create indices that compare U.S. states to one another and to the nation. Some of their findings can be found in this quiz.

1. Which state most closely resembles the United States when it comes to income? (Hint: Its state flower is the violet.)

a. Arizona

b. Illinois

c. Georgia

d. Nevada

2. Which state is most like the United States when it comes to residents’ educational achievement? (Hint: It has the oldest state park in the nation.)

a. Rhode Island

b. West Virginia

c. Georgia

d. Texas

3. Which state most closely mirrors the country when it comes to employment? (Hint: Its known for a tasty sandwich.)

a. Pennsylvania

b. Utah

c. Mississippi

d. Ohio

4. Bronner constructed a similarity index using 30 variables to predict which states are likely to vote similarly. Which states are the closest match to one another? (Hint: You may have a hard time believing it.)

a. Arkansas – New Mexico

b. California – Texas

c. Florida – Wisconsin

d. New Hampshire – Ohio

Financial plans are a lot like states. They reflect the unique characteristics and needs of individuals and families. If you have any questions about whether you are on track to achieve your financial goals, get in touch.

Answers: 1) b; 2) c; 3) a; 4) b

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* These views are those of Carson Coaching, and not the presenting Representative, the Representative’s Broker/Dealer, or Registered Investment Advisor, and should not be construed as investment advice.

* This newsletter was prepared by Carson Coaching. Carson Coaching is not affiliated with the named firm.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasseography

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/leadingindicator.asp#citation-7

https://www.clevelandfed.org/indicators-and-data/yield-curve-and-predicted-gdp-growth

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/economic_indicator.asp

https://www.morningstar.com/news/marketwatch/20240517272/leading-index-for-us-economy-sinks-again-and-points-to-slower-growth

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/16/us-inflation-data-fuels-bets-of-fed-rate-cuts-as-early-as-september.html

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm

https://www.barrons.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-051724?mod=article_inline (or go to https://resources.carsongroup.com/hubfs/WMC-Source/2024/05-20-24_Barrons_Stock%20Market%20News%20From%20May%2017%202024_8.pdf)

https://home.treasury.gov/resource-center/data-chart-center/interest-rates/TextView?type=daily_treasury_yield_curve&field_tdr_date_value_month=202405

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2024/04/25/what-was-the-first-state/73278172007/