The Growth of the Southeast: An Economic and Cultural Shift in the U.S.
A New Economic Dominance
For the first time in over two centuries, the Northeast has lost its position as the financial and industrial center of the United States. This title has now transferred to the Southeast, driven significantly by the economic expansions in states like Florida, Texas, and North Carolina. Despite Texas’s geographic classification, it is often included in the Southeast due to its growing cultural and economic ties with the region.
Migration Trends Over the Past 25 Years
The migration of people and businesses over the last quarter-century has reshaped regional economies, as highlighted on the new website Unleash Prosperity, specifically on VoteWithYourFeet.com. This platform documents the significant movement away from the high-tax, heavily regulated states in the Northeast and West Coast to the lower-tax and less-regulated areas in the Southeast and mountain states such as Idaho and Utah.
From 2020 to 2023, the Southeast experienced a net increase of 2.5 million residents, while the Northeast witnessed a decline, largely attributed to the outflow of individuals from traditionally blue states like California and Illinois.
The Changing Landscape of College Sports
The impact of this demographic shift is also evident in collegiate athletics. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has dominated college basketball, winning 17 of the last 20 national championships. Recently, of the 16 teams remaining in the NCAA basketball tournament’s Sweet 16, 15 are from states that voted for Donald J. Trump in the last election.
The SEC’s dominance underscores the shifting influence in college sports.
This year, teams such as Alabama, Arkansas, and Kentucky stand out among the Sweet 16 participants, with only Maryland representing the contingent from a blue state. While Arizona and Michigan may show some political diversity, they, too, lean towards Republican policies and low taxation.
The Future Landscape for Blue States
The prospect of a comeback for blue state teams appears challenging. According to Rivals, a recruiting database, 28 out of the top 40 high school basketball prospects hail from red states, with Florida, Texas, Georgia, and North Carolina at the forefront in talent production. The disparity is even more pronounced in high school football, where 75% of the top prospects originate from red states.
The implications of this trend suggest that blue state economic policies may not only be influencing business migration but also eroding their capacity to attract athletic talent, potentially leading to a decline in competitive success in sports.
