For decades, Mississippi has been the punchline in national discussions about economic performance - often ranked at the bottom in income, education, and opportunity.
But something remarkable has happened in recent years: the Magnolia State is undergoing a genuine resurgence, driven not by federal handouts or gimmicks, but by principled free-market reforms. A major national publication, the Washington Examiner, recently spotlighted this transformation in a feature titled "Mississippi Turning." The article notes that Mississippi has achieved more economic growth in the past five years than in the previous 15 combined. This isn't hyperbole; recent data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows Mississippi posting some of the nation's strongest GDP growth rates, including a 4.2% real GDP increase in 2024 that ranked second nationally. What’s fueling this engine? Bold structural changes that prioritize freedom, competition, and low barriers to opportunity. First, labor-market reforms have opened doors for workers and entrepreneurs. In 2021, Mississippi enacted universal recognition of out-of-state occupational licenses, allowing skilled professionals to bring their talents here without jumping through needless bureaucratic hoops. The state has also slashed red tape on in-state licensing requirements, eliminating hundreds of hours of mandatory training for many everyday jobs. These changes have attracted talent, put downward pressure on remaining barriers, and made it easier for Mississippians to earn a living.
Second, historic tax reform is putting money back in people's pockets. Starting with the largest tax cut in state history in 2022, Mississippi phased in a flat 4% income tax. In 2025, lawmakers went further, enacting legislation to reduce the rate to 3% by 2030 and trigger annual cuts thereafter until the state income tax is fully eliminated—the first such move by a state in decades. This pro-growth policy rewards work and ambition while making Mississippi more competitive for businesses and families. Third, a commitment to reliable, low-cost energy has made the state a magnet for investment. By resisting costly subsidized green mandates, Mississippi has kept electricity prices among the nation's lowest, powering energy-intensive industries like data centers and advanced manufacturing. Major announcements, including billions from companies like Amazon Web Services, underscore how affordable energy translates into jobs and capital inflows. Since 2020, the state has attracted tens of billions in private investment, fueling record-breaking economic development.The results speak for themselves: explosive GDP growth, surging personal incomes, rising university enrollments, and—for the first time in generations—net in-migration as people choose to move to Mississippi rather than away. Recent years have seen positive net migration, reversing long-standing outflows and signaling a brighter future. This turnaround didn't happen by accident. It's the direct consequence of free-market ideas championed by policymakers and advocates who refused to accept the status quo. Mississippi is no longer just catching up; it's becoming a national model that other states are watching closely. As we close out another productive year, moments like the Washington Examiner's recognition remind us that principled, steady work pays off. Mississippi is proving that freedom works—creating a freer, more prosperous place for all its citizens. Other states should take note: lower taxes, fewer regulations, and reliable energy are the path to revival. Douglas Carswell is President and CEO of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy.
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20 comments:
Mississippi is a free market? I can't even buy milk and dairy products from a farmer without having to be in some legal gray area by joining a herdshare.
LIES!! - data centers they keep bragging about is straight-up corporate welfare paid for by taxpayers, not some magical free market. AWS's $10 billion Madison County data center project in 2024 landed hundreds of millions in state incentives including $44 million in direct funds, up to $259 million total with loans and rebates, a 10-year full corporate income tax exemption, sales tax breaks on equipment and materials, and potential 30-year rolling exemptions if targets are met.
What are the largest employers in Mississippi?
State Gov
Taxpayer funded Ingalls Shipbuilding
Taxpayer funded healthcare industry
Taxpayer funded higher education
And Walmart
The Washington Examiner? Completely unreliable source and just a cog in the propaganda machine. What a bunch of hooey!
Wonder where AWS wired all the backdoor transfers for the payoffs, er - campaign contributions, went to.
And don't forget - pretty boy Tommy Duff is on stage to give the mob something "new and fresh" to vote for....and keep them from noticing how they're getting fleeced without the grease.
“Mississippi has kept electricity prices among the nation's lowest, powering energy-intensive industries like data centers and advanced manufacturing. Major announcements, including billions from companies like Amazon Web Services, underscore how affordable energy translates into jobs and capital inflows.”
Please, let’s circle back to this within 5 years….let’s “fact check” the number if jobs promised vs actual jobs delivered excluding one time construction jobs. Let’s look back at electricity costs before and after for MS residents regarding Entergy’s cost shifting to residents for the data centers.
Remember the governor, legislators and Entergy that gave away our resources to some of the wealthiest corporations ever!
MS leaders are like Sally Field said, “they like me, they really, really like me” Hey morons, look at the other states that no longer allow “data centers “ because they require very high energy and water demands that outpace what they promised. If only we could have Jackson Jambalaya “memories” pop up like they do on Facebook. 👀
I didn't see anything about the incompetence of the Legislature allowing a $26 billion shortfall in PERS. As the church lady would say "How convenient".
The data centers are the Trojan horse to the surveillance state that will be aggressively attempted for full control of the masses.....and that is why Mississippi's corrupt leadership wants them.
Hahaha! Not sure rest of the USA views Mississippi as a model they desire. Remove the corruption and just maybe something will grow. At least it would be a start.
Data Centers should not be approved unless they generate their own electricity. Why should MS rate payers be forced to climb in a squirrel cage to spark them up?
The truth lies in the unemployment figures. They have remained between 3% and 4%. Then you have to ask if the pay to workers kept up with inflation. The answer is no. The median income is $37,500 and the average stays around $40000.
So, while we give corporations all sorts of " incentives" including our politicians selling the land and contracts to provide " services" which increase the size of county budgets politicians can spend or redirect. Wages don't change in Mississippi.
The one thing party politics has done is keep our nations wealth in the hands of a few. The top 1% of our population controls 30-31% of U.S. wealth and the bottom 50% control less than 3%. These figures are the WORST among DEVELOPED nations! These figures are from OUR Federal Reserve and Forbes. This is not capitalism. It's not the economy of free nations but of autocratic nations. That we are now "friends" of Saudis and former Communists turned dictators is not a surprise. It's why our Founders warned us of the dangers of a two party system. One would eventually prevail.
I'm lucky to have more money than I or my heirs can ever need but I'm also a patriot and we will not be a democracy much longer if we don't prevent one party dominance.
And, how on earth are we so math dumb that you will believe we can bring back textiles or steel or any other manufacturer when their plants and equipment aren't here anymore? The citizens in other countries learn how to use and buy the equipment and how to manage the corporation. What incentive does a corporation that left our shores have to spend their profits to rebuild or move equipment and pay higher wages? Losing the textile industry should have been the warning bell. Only Hanes still have some socks still made here...most of their product is made in Vietnam, Honduras, El Salvador, China and Bangladesh. If you can make all the parts, you can make the product. Greed will be written in history as the cause of our downfall.
Shareholder capitalism is fantastic as a shareholder! No one should aspire to be a "worker", being an owner is the bees' knees!
"...the Magnolia State is undergoing a genuine resurgence, driven not by federal handouts or gimmicks, but by principled free-market reforms."
Oh really? From Russ Latino at Empower Mississippi in August 2021: "Last week, I talked about the exorbitant sum of federal dollars pouring into the state of Mississippi in response to COVID-19. In total, over $36 billion has been appropriated to Mississippi citizens, businesses and government. That’s roughly 31 percent of Mississippi’s entire pre-COVID economy."
https://empowerms.org/mississippi-government-flush-with-covid-cash/
Try again Dougy.
The truth is that Missippippi is headed to a recession https://www.newsnationnow.com/business/moodys-states-in-recession/amp/
How much private investment was there? Louisiana had over 60 Billion this year! There wasn’t one special session either !
Propaganda against the Tariffs.
We are not a free nation, haven't been for more than 100 years. Our money is owned by the Federal Reserve Board, that's right, your money is owned by banks. When your money is owned lock, stock, and barrel, you aren't free.
Hey 3:58, you got some gold or bitcoins to sell?
No, do you? You have nothing to say about the post?
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