Hawaii

Often touted as paradise—if you can afford its higher-than-average taxes and cost of living—Hawaii came in 10^th from the bottom because, among other things, its economic activity rank placed it at 50^th—while, surprisingly, its export rate per capita was even lower: the lowest in the nation. For economic health, the state ranked 17^th, but for innovation potential it only made 39^th place.

It also ranked 44^th in venture capital funding per capita and 49^th in the percentage of jobs in high-tech industries—although who goes to Hawaii for tech? Unemployment isn't a problem in the state, though; it tied with North Dakota for the fifth-lowest unemployment rate in the country.

Oklahoma

The wind may come sweeping across the plain here, but a 39^th place finish for economic activity isn't great. Neither is a 42^nd place ranking for economic health or a 46^th place ranking for innovation potential.

The state also finished 50^th for exports per capita.

Alabama

Alabama's 37^th place innovation potential outpaced the state's economic activity, at 44^th place, and its 46^th place economic health ranking.

Alabama residents will not be pleased to know that the state ranked 47^th for median annual household income, and 48^th for independent-inventor patents per 1,000 working-age residents.

Kentucky

The Bluegrass State's 30^th place finish for economic activity makes a better showing than its 50^th place ranking for economic health and 45^th place for innovation potential.

Placing 49^th for independent-inventor patents per 1,000 working-age residents isn't exactly a sterling recommendation, either; nor is Kentucky's 48^th place for lowest state-government surplus per capita and for lowest median annual household income.

Louisiana

The Pelican State's economic activity isn't all that bad, at 29^th place, probably thanks in part to its first-place tie with the state of Washington for most exports per capita, but its economic health—at 49^th—and innovation potential—also at 49^th—helped to drag it down.

Louisiana came in at 45^th for venture funding capital per capita, near the bottom, at 48^th, for nonfarm payrolls change. And the state was 49th for state-government surplus per capita and 50^th in immigration of U.S. knowledge workers.

New Mexico

New Mexico's innovation potential was considerably higher, at 15^th place, than either its economic activity—47^th place—or its economic health, at 51^st place.

But in a study in contrasts, it surprisingly comes in second place for the highest percentage of jobs in high-tech industries—yet finishes in 51^st place, with the lowest immigration of U.S. knowledge workers of any state.

Maine

Maine was an outlier, a New England state finishing near the bottom. Its economic activity held it down to 48^th place, while economic health was only 45^th and innovation potential dragged in at 47^th place.

Maine also had the fourth-lowest GDP growth in the country.

West Virginia

West Virginia's economic activity placed 43^rd, while its economic health placed it in 47^th place and its innovation potential was even worse, at 50^th.

Interestingly, its GDP growth placed it at the other end of the scale, in fourth place, while the state finished dead last in business startup activity and tied for 48^th place for its unemployment rate. It placed 49^th for nonfarm payrolls change and for median annual household income, 50^th for the percentage of jobs in high-tech industries, and 49^th for the number of independent-inventor patents per 1,000 working-age residents.

Arkansas

For economic activity, the Natural State was right down near the bottom, at 49^th; economic health was a tad better, at 36^th, but innovation potential was at the very bottom: 51^st place.

The state was 50^th in median annual household income, 48^th when it came to the percentage of jobs in high-tech industries, 50^th for independent-inventor patents per 1,000 working-age residents, and 43^rd in venture capital funding per capita.

Mississippi

The state ranked as having the worst economy in the union was Mississippi, due to its rankings of 51^st in economic activity, 48^th in economic health, and 44^th in innovation potential.

Mississippi also placed 50^th in GDP growth, 47^th in unemployment, 51^st in median annual household income, and 51^st for independent-inventor patents per 1,000.