American Dream Case Study – Louisiana versus Alabama

Louisiana: New Frontier For opportunity

Alabama: A Better Place To Build A Better World

Case Study

This is one in a series of case studies to illustrate how you can use the 2012 American Dream State Ranking Report data to identify the comparative strengths and weaknesses of your state for use in a SWOT analysis.

Analysis Approach

I compare the two states based on the 35 dimensions captured in the 2012 American Dream State Ranking Report. In this analysis, an advantage is defined as equal to or greater than an index of 105 for a specific dimension score. A disadvantage is defined as equal to or less than an index of 95 for a specific dimension score.

Identified Points Of Difference

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Additional Perspective

The ADCI data reflect the outlook of people living in each state. Reasons why people responded as they did cannot be determined from these data. However, understanding the why behind the what is important to being able to define strategies that can better enable people living in your state to achieve the American Dream.

To that end, I did a Google search to find some clues to shed light on the why. This is not intended to be a complete, nor balanced comparison between the two states. It is simply intended to suggest there may be an underlying reason why people living in each state responded as they did. The next step should be for local economic development professionals to conduct market research with people living in their state in order to better understand the true drivers of why they are feeling the way they do. The research could be qualitative, quantitative or a combination of both.

Google Search Findings

Louisiana (#35) is ranked better than Alabama (#40) based on cost-benefit.

Source: TrueCost Blog. http://truecostblog.com/2012/01/01/us-state-economic-rankings/

Louisiana (#15) is ranked higher than Alabama (#30) on education quality.

Source: Education Week. http://www.edweek.org

Note:

Generational progress reflects the sentiment that one has about their life relative to his/her parents.

Freedom of choice is the ability to choose what he/she wants in life.

Just society is the extent to which society is fair and moral.

Melting pot – Personal and Social Identity is the sentiment one has about different personal and social identities (e.g. sexual orientation and religious practice)

Interpretation

Remember, the American Dream Composite Index™ is a measure of sentiment. It reveals what people living in a state do, strive for, work for, wish for, and ultimately hope for as they assume multiple roles, including but not limited to, consumers, parents, children, students, employees, employers, parishioners, voters, etc.

The survey conducted by Xavier University contains 139 statements pertaining to various aspects of the American Dream. Responses comprise the 35 dimensions that ultimately make-up the ADCI. The survey instrument has been statistically validated.

The ADCI data reveal HOW people living in a state feel about their personal well-being and environment. However, the data do not explain WHY people feel the way they do. The ADCI allows economic developers to better understand opportunities for improving their state’s ability to enable the American Dream. It also helps them identify potential competitive advantages and vulnerabilities versus other states.

Interpret the survey data as “This is the way people living in my state feel about their ability to achieve their definition of the American Dream”.

Discussion

The intent behind sharing the study results is to raise important questions that are beyond the scope of these data to answer. The kind of questions that, when answered, will provide you insight into which barriers to achieving the American Dream you should be working to remove.

I have no doubt some economic development professionals will be dissatisfied with their state’s rank. This is totally understandable. I am actually not thrilled with where my state ended up in the ranking.

But, please don’t ignore the ranking. Instead, use it to encourage local work in answering the WHY question. Why do people living in your state feel the way they do? Answering this question will provide valuable insights to use in your state’s economic development strategic planning process.