Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
AirTalk

Fool's gold: Is California bad for business?

FONTANA, CA - OCTOBER 8:  Retail space for lease in a strip mall is advertised on October 8, 2009 in Fontana, California. Third quarter reports indicate that US strip mall vacancies were at a 17-year high. Vacancies have risen under the decline of the US economy, weak consumer spending and the housing bust. Thirty percent of new retail properties were reportedly less than 50 percent occupied upon completion.  (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Retail space for lease in a strip mall is advertised in Fontana, California.
(
David McNew/Getty Images
)
Listen 18:12
Fool's gold: Is California bad for business?

In recent years, many have mocked California's business climate.

The abundant taxation and regulation has lead to most mid-to-small sized firms being driven out of California. Many out-of-state politicians have have ridiculed the state for being unable to foster any major growth.

It's been so bad that the popular business and economics magazine "Chief Executive" has dubbed it the absolute least business friendly state in the country consistently over the last decade.

But some believe that while California may not be very "business-friendly," that characterization is not telling the entire story. For instance, that golden state has been a leader in business and job creation. In fact, in 2013 California added jobs from newly established businesses faster than all but four other states.

Is California as bad for business as many have declared? Or is there more to consider in the world of economics before that can be decided.

Guests:

JP Donlon, Editor in Chief of "Chief Executive," a business publication that has consistently ranked California as the least business-friendly state in the union several times over

Chris Thornberg, Leading economist and a Founding Partner of Beacon Economics