The CRI continues to pay “Dr” John Stapleford to wax eloquent on the conservative utopia that Delaware would be if we only followed the conservative example of states like Somalia and Haiti. If you have the stomach for it, click on for his latest.
Delaware’s economy and governance
Since Delaware has had 15 consecutive years of conservative governors followed by 18 years of progressive governors, it is an interesting case study. Do the differences in the governance philosophies have consequences for Delaware’s economy?
A simple answer to this question is to consider the differences in the major measures of economic performance for Delaware between these two time periods. While this simple approach doesn’t control for all intervening factors, both periods saw two national recessions and, according to the Tax Foundation, the state and local tax burdens were similar.
As shown below, the Delaware economy was far more robust during the conservative years than during the progressive years. Output and personal income grew more than 60% faster during the conservative period, while per capita income and employment grew over 100% faster. The unemployment rate was slightly lower during the progressive period and the poverty rates were essentially the same.
“Since Delaware has had 15 consecutive years of conservative governors followed by 18 years of progressive governors, it is an interesting case study.”
Is it? Now, I’m no “Doctor” like “Doctor” Stapey, but just I know how to Google the last few governors to Delaware and see if how paragons of “conservative” philosophy shape up against his governmental archetypes of progressive thought… let’s see…
Pierre S. du Pont, IV January 18, 1977 January 15, 1985
Michael Castle January 15, 1985 December 31, 1992
Dale E. Wolf December 31, 1992 January 19, 1993
Thomas R. Carper January 19, 1993 January 3, 2001
Ruth Ann Minner January 3, 2001 January 20, 2009
Jack Markell January 20, 2009
That’s pretty solid proof of whatever the doctor was trying to prove I guess. Carper and Ruth Ann are Delaware’s answer to Mao and Trotsky, so….