[ytwySXpMbS]

I’m not sure where you’re getting your numbers from. Assuming by “poorer” you mean nominal GDP, Germany would be the richest state in the US.

[tpush]

Presumably they mean GDP per capita, which slots Germany[0] just under Alabama[1].

[0] https://www.macrotrends.net/countries/DEU/germany/gdp-per-ca...

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_and_territories...

[barry-cotter]

My numbers were out of date. Germany has a higher GDP per capita than South Carolina, Alabama, Idaho, West Virginia, Arkansas and Mississippi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territ...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Germany

[danielscrubs]

Interesting. Why does Washington DC have almost triple the gdp/capita then California? What do they do that California don’t?

[filmgirlcw]

Much smaller area (DC is something like 65 square miles) and population, for one.

But beyond that, my thought is that although you probably have fewer super rich people in DC, you also have way fewer poor people. So the average is going to be higher than even SV.

Plus, the types of jobs in DC proper (so we’re not talking about the extended Maryland and Virginia suburbs) are almost entirely professional/government. It’s also a very expensive place to live.

[barry-cotter]

DC has higher GDP per capita than California for the same reason NYC would have higher GDP per capita than NY state, or San Francisco than all of California. Cities are more economically productive than areas that also have lots of low value added activities like agriculture, mining or forestry.