The New Race To The Bottom

by Stuart Shapiro

The “Race To The Bottom” is a phrase often used derogatorily to describe what happens when states compete with each other by lowering standards.  For example, in order to attract businesses, states may reduce environmental standards competitively.  However, the new Republican governors are redefining “Race To The Bottom”

Florida’s Rick Scott and Ohio’s John Kasich are currently the leading contenders for the title of the most unpopular governor in America, according to a recent Public Policy Polling (PPP) survey. (A mere 32 percent of respondents approve of Scott, while just 33 percent support Kasich. A separate Quinnipiac poll puts Scott’s approval even lower, at 29 percent.) Michigan’s Rick Snyder is struggling with a 33 percent approval rating, and in Wisconsin, 43 percent approve of Scott Walker, PPP found—down 3 points from February and 9 from Election Day 2010. Only 41 percent of respondents gave Iowa’s Terry Branstad a thumb’s up.

It is very hard to know who to root for this race, there are so many worthy contenders for worst new governor.  Unfortunately, the real losers are the people who live in these states, especially the ones at the bottom of the economic spectrum.

By: Stuart Shapiro

Stuart is a professor and the Director of the Public Policy
program at the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers
University. He teaches economics and cost-benefit analysis and studies
regulation in the United States at both the federal and state levels.
Prior to coming to Rutgers, Stuart worked for five years at the Office
of Management and Budget in Washington under Presidents Clinton and
George W. Bush.