A key point about comparisons between RI and Massachusetts
From this morning’s Providence Journal (emphasis mine):
Jim Stergios, of Boston’s Pioneer Institute, said Rhode Island should be careful about copying Massachusetts.
“While Rhode Island may consider Massachusetts is doing better,” Stergios said, “the fact of the matter is Massachusetts is Greater Boston and three Rhode Islands grafted onto it.
“The high unemployment rates you see in those areas are similar to those in Rhode Island.”
Right! Rhode Island doesn’t want an economy that’s more like, say, Fall River’s – Rhode Island wants an economy that’s more like Boston’s (or Stamford’s). And that’s a big, long-term project.
• Related: It could be worse, Rhode Island – we could be Connecticut (June 30, 2011)
Tags: economic development, economy, jim stergios, massachusetts, pioneer institute, rhode island