Inside the making of our 2026 state economy rankings
Quartz ranked all 50 state economies for 2026 and published its methodology. The piece details the metrics and data sources behind the ranking, notes four mistakes identified before publication, and acknowledges seven unresolved problems.
Quartz has produced a 2026 ranking of all 50 state economies. It also released an explanation of how the ranking was built, including the measures and datasets behind it.
That explanation notes four errors found before the ranking was published. It also acknowledges seven issues that remain unresolved, indicating known limits in the exercise.
Rankings of this kind may influence how policymakers, business leaders, journalists, and residents interpret state economic performance. If the disclosed errors and unresolved issues receive attention, readers could become more cautious about using such comparisons for investment, relocation, or public debate. The ranking's actual societal effect may depend on whether audiences engage with the methodology and its caveats, not just the final list.