– Mississippi has similar GDP per capita ($53061) than Germany ($54291) and the UK ($51075), so why are people in Mississippi so much poorer with a much lower living standard?

Question

I was surprised to learn that poor states like Mississippi have about the same gdp per capita as rich developed countries. How can this be true? Why is there such a different standard of living?

In: Economics

Answer 1

Germany and the UK are also highly secular countries, with much more focus on education and science. Mississippi is intensely religious and anti science (on average, based on their actions and votes) and this has a detrimental effect on progress.