Ranking the States by Fiscal Condition, 2015 Edition

Abstract

Based on the fiscal year 2013 Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports of the 50 states, this study ranks states' fiscal solvency using 14 metrics that assess whether the states can meet their short-term bills and long-term obligations. State finances are analyzed according to five dimensions of solvency: cash, budget, long-run, service-level, and trust fund. These five dimensions are combined to produce an overall ranking of state fiscal solvency.

Keywords: state fiscal condition, fiscal solvency, financial ratios, state financial condition, public finance, state budget, state borrowing, state tax, public pensions, deficit, state expenditure, debt, surplus, government bonds, revenue, cash solvency, budget solvency

JEL Classification: H2, H3, H7, M410, M420