The document provides an economic analysis of the state of Nebraska. It includes a snapshot of Nebraska's position relative to other states on indicators of prosperity, productivity, labor mobilization, innovation, and cluster strength. It also summarizes Nebraska's leading economic clusters. Graphs show Nebraska's comparative economic performance over time and in recent years on measures such as GDP per capita, private wages, and employment growth.

1. Nebraska Competitiveness:
State and Cluster Economic Performance
Prepared for Governor Dave Heineman
Professor Michael E. Porter
National Governors Association Winter Meeting
February 26, 2011
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 1 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

2. Nebraska Performance Snapshot
Position Trend
Prosperity
Productivity
Labor Mobilization
Top quintile
Innovation 2nd quintile
3rd quintile
4th quintile
Cluster Strength Lowest quintile
• Processed Food
• Financial Services
Leading Clusters • Heavy Machinery
• Medical Devices
• Agricultural Products
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 2 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

3. State Comparative Performance
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 3 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

4. Nebraska Competitiveness
Overall Economic Performance Indicators
Prosperity Cluster
Gross State Product per capita, 2009 Share of State Traded Employment in Strong Clusters, 2008
• In Nebraska: $48,112 Rank: 18 • In Nebraska: 34.7% Rank: 29
• In the US: $46,093 • In the US: 41.8%
• State difference to US: 4.4%
Change in Share of National Employment in Strong Clusters, 1998-2008
Growth in Gross State Product per capita, real annual rate, 1999-2009 • In Nebraska: 0.10% Rank: 21
• In Nebraska: 1.88% Rank: 7 • In the US: -0.06%
• In the US: 0.86%
Share of Employment in Traded Clusters, 1998-2008
• In Nebraska: 30.6% Rank: 8
• In the US: 27.4%
Productivity
Gross State Product per labor force participant, 2009 Change in Share of Employment in Traded Clusters, 1998-2008
• In Nebraska: $88,140 Rank: 19 • In Nebraska: -1.0% Rank: 16
• In the US: $92,382 • In the US: -2.2%
• State difference to US: -4.6%
Labor Mobilization
Growth in Gross State Product per labor force participant*, 1999-2009
• In Nebraska: 2.08% Rank: 9 Population, 2009
• In the US: 1.09% • In Nebraska: 1,796,613 Rank: 38
• % of US: 0.59%
Average private wage, 2008
• In Nebraska: $35,046 Rank: 37 Population growth, annual rate, 1999-2009
• In the US: $42,435 • In Nebraska: 0.53% Rank: 33
• State difference to US: -17.4% • In the US: 0.96%
Private wage Growth, annual rate, 1998-2008 Labor Force Participation, 2009
• In Nebraska: 3.34% Rank: 25 • In Nebraska: 72.1 Rank: 4
• In the US: 3.32% • In the US: 65.4
Employment, 2010 (December)
• In Nebraska: 930,671 Rank: 37
Innovation Output
• % of US: 0.67%
Patents Per 10,000 Employees, 2009
• In Nebraska: 2.40 Rank: 39 Employment growth, annual rate, 2000-2010 (December)
• In the US: 6.83 • In Nebraska: 0.06% Rank: 28
• In the US: 0.11%
Growth in total patents, annual rate, 1998-2009
• In Nebraska: -0.50% Rank: 22 Unemployment, 2010 (December)
• In the US: 0.23% • In Nebraska: 4.4% Rank: 2
• In the US: 9.4%
Traded establishment formation, annual growth rate, 1998-2008
• In Nebraska: 1.67% Rank: 26 Change in Unemployment, 2000-2010 (December)
• In the US: 1.79% • In Nebraska: 1.6% Rank: 2
• In the US: 5.5%
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 4 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

5. Long Term State Prosperity Performance
1999 to 2009
$70,000
U.S. GDP per Capita Wyoming
Delaware
Real Growth Rate: 0.86%
High but declining Alaska High and rising
$65,000 versus U.S. Connecticut prosperity versus U.S.
$60,000
Gross Domestic Product per Capita, 2009
New York
New Jersey Massachusetts
$55,000
Virginia
Washington California Hawaii
$50,000 Maryland North Dakota
Colorado
Nevada Illinois Minnesota
U.S. GDP per Nebraska Iowa
South Dakota
Capita: $46,093 Louisiana
Texas New Hampshire Rhode Island
$45,000 Kansas
Pennsylvania Oregon
North Carolina Wisconsin
Indiana Oklahoma
Ohio Utah Vermont
$40,000 Georgia Missouri Florida
Tennessee Arizona Maine
Michigan Kentucky Montana
New Mexico Alabama
$35,000 West Virginia Arkansas Idaho
South Carolina
Low and declining Mississippi
Low but rising versus U.S.
versus U.S.
$30,000
-1.0% -0.5% 0.0% 0.5% 1.0% 1.5% 2.0% 2.5% 3.0% 3.5% 4.0%
Gross Domestic Product per Capita Real Growth Rate, 1999 to 2009
Notes: Real GDP figures in 2005 chained US dollars from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Growth rate is calculated as compound annual growth rate. D.C. excluded
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 5 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

6. Near Term State Prosperity Performance
U.S. States, 2007 to 2009
$70,000
High but declining versus U.S. Wyoming
Delaware
Alaska High and rising
$65,000 Connecticut prosperity versus U.S.
U.S. GDP per Capita
Real Growth Rate: -1.87%
$60,000
Gross Domestic Product per Capita, 2009
New York New Jersey
Massachusetts
$55,000
Washington Virginia
California Hawaii
$50,000 Colorado Maryland North Dakota
Nevada Illinois Minnesota Nebraska
Iowa South Dakota
Texas Louisiana
New Hampshire U.S. GDP per
$45,000 Rhode Island Kansas
Pennsylvania
Capita: $46,093
Oregon
North Carolina Wisconsin
Indiana Oklahoma
Ohio Vermont
Georgia Utah Missouri
$40,000
Arizona Florida
Tennessee Maine
Michigan Montana
New Mexico
Kentucky
$35,000 Alabama Arkansas
South Carolina Idaho West Virginia
Mississippi
Low and declining versus U.S. Low but rising versus U.S.
$30,000
-6.0% -4.0% -2.0% 0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0%
Gross Domestic Product per Capita Real Growth Rate, 2007 to 2009
Notes: Real GDP figures in 2005 chained US dollars from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Growth rate is calculated as compound annual growth rate.
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 6 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

7. State Private Sector Wage Performance
1998-2008
$60,000
High but declining versus U.S. High and rising wages
relative to U.S.
New York
U.S. Average Wage
Growth: 3.32%
$55,000
Connecticut
Massachusetts
New Jersey
$50,000
Alaska
Average Wage, 2008
California
Illinois
Washington
$45,000 Delaware Maryland
U.S. Average Minnesota Virginia
Wage: $ 42,435 Colorado Texas
Pennsylvania New Hampshire
Michigan Rhode Island
$40,000 Oregon Georgia Wyoming
Ohio Wisconsin Arizona
Missouri Nevada Louisiana
North Carolina Kansas
Tennessee Florida
Indiana Utah
Hawaii Nebraska Oklahoma
$35,000 Maine
Kentucky New Mexico
Iowa Vermont
South Carolina
Idaho Arkansas North Dakota
Alabama
West Virginia South Dakota
Low and declining versus U.S. Mississippi Montana Low but rising versus U.S.
$30,000
2.0% 2.5% 3.0% 3.5% 4.0% 4.5% 5.0% 5.5%
Wage Growth (CAGR), 1998-2008
Source: Census CBP report; private, non-agricultural employment. Growth is calculated on nominal wage levels.
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 7 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

8. Long Term State Labor Productivity Performance
1999-2009
$150,000
High but declining versus U.S. U.S. GDP per Labor Force
Participant Real Growth: 1.09% Highly productive and
Delaware productivity rising versus U.S.
Gross Domestic Product per Labor Force Participant, 2009
$140,000
$130,000
Alaska Wyoming
Connecticut
$120,000
New York
$110,000
New Jersey Massachusetts
Hawaii
Louisiana California
$100,000 Virginia
Washington Illinois Maryland
Colorado U.S. GDP per Labor Force
Nevada Texas Participant: $92,382
$90,000 North Carolina Minnesota Nebraska North
Pennsylvania Oklahoma
Utah Dakota
Georgia Indiana Rhode Island Iowa South Oregon
Arizona Alabama
Ohio Tennessee Wisconsin Kansas Dakota
$80,000 Missouri
Florida West Virginia
New Mexico
Michigan New Hampshire Mississippi
Kentucky
Arkansas
South Carolina Maine Montana Idaho
$70,000 Vermont
Low and declining versus U.S. Low but rising versus U.S.
$60,000
-0.5% 0.0% 0.5% 1.0% 1.5% 2.0% 2.5% 3.0% 3.5%
Gross Domestic Product per Labor Force Participant Real Growth Rate, 1999-2009
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis. Notes Growth rate calculated as compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 8 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

9. Near Term State Labor Productivity Performance
2007-2009
$150,000
High but declining versus U.S.
Highly productive and
$140,000
Delaware productivity rising versus U.S.
U.S. GDP per Labor Force
Gross State Product per Labor Force Participant, 2009
Participant Real Growth: -0.97%
$130,000 Wyoming
Alaska
$120,000 Connecticut
New York
$110,000
New Jersey Massachusetts
California Hawaii
$100,000 Virginia Louisiana
Washington Maryland
Illinois Colorado U.S. GDP per Labor Force
Texas
Nevada Participant: $92,382
$90,000 Minnesota Nebraska South
North Carolina Pennsylvania Dakota Oklahoma North Dakota
Oregon
Georgia Indiana Utah Iowa
Rhode Island Alabama
Arizona Wisconsin West Virginia
$80,000 Florida
Ohio
Missouri
New Mexico
Michigan Arkansas
South Carolina Kentucky Mississippi
Maine
Idaho Montana
$70,000 Vermont
Kansas
Tennessee
Low and declining versus U.S. New Hampshire Low but rising versus U.S.
$60,000
-8.0% -6.0% -4.0% -2.0% 0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0% 8.0%
Gross State Product per Labor Force Participant Real Growth Rate, 2007-2009
Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis. Notes: Growth rate calculated as compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 9 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

10. Long Term State Job Growth
2000 to 2010
9,000,000
California (15,945,558) New York Texas (11,202,388)
Florida
8,000,000
U.S. Average Growth Rate: 0.11%
7,000,000
6,000,000 Illinois
Number of Jobs 2010
Pennsylvania
Ohio
5,000,000
Michigan Georgia
New Jersey North Carolina
4,000,000 Virginia
Massachusetts
Washington
3,000,000 Indiana
Wisconsin Maryland Arizona
Tennessee Minnesota
Missouri
Colorado
Louisiana
2,000,000 Alabama Kentucky South Carolina
Oregon
Connecticut
Iowa Kansas
Mississippi Oklahoma Arkansas Nevada Utah
1,000,000 Nebraska New Mexico
New Hampshire
West Virginia Rhode Island Maine Hawaii Idaho
Delaware Montana North South Dakota
Alaska
Vermont Dakota Wyoming
0
-2.0% -1.5% -1.0% -0.5% 0.0% 0.5% 1.0% 1.5% 2.0%
Losing Jobs Job Growth Rate (CAGR), 2000-2010 Gaining Jobs
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 10 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

11. Near Term State Job Growth
2007 to 2010
9,000,000
California (15,945,558) Texas (11,202,388)
New York
Florida
8,000,000
U.S. Average Growth Rate: -1.52%
7,000,000
6,000,000 Illinois
Number of Jobs 2010
Pennsylvania
Ohio
5,000,000
Michigan Georgia
North Carolina
New Jersey Virginia
4,000,000
Massachusetts Washington
3,000,000 Wisconsin Arizona
Indiana Minnesota
Missouri Tennessee
Maryland
Colorado
2,000,000 Alabama Kentucky
South Carolina Oregon Louisiana
Oklahoma Connecticut
Utah Arkansas Iowa
Nevada Kansas
Mississippi
1,000,000 West Virginia New Mexico
New
Idaho Hawaii Nebraska
Delaware Maine Hampshire North Dakota
Montana Rhode Island
South Dakota Vermont Alaska
Wyoming
0
-4.0% -3.5% -3.0% -2.5% -2.0% -1.5% -1.0% -0.5% 0.0% 0.5% 1.0%
Losing Jobs Job Growth Rate (CAGR), 2007-2010 Gaining Jobs
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 11 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

12. Long Term State Unemployment Rate
2000 to 2010
3.0
%
Below average
unemployment North Dakota
Nebraska
South Dakota
5.0
%
New Hampshire
Vermont
Iowa Wyoming
Oklahoma Hawaii
Virginia Kansas
Unemployment Rate, 2010
7.0
% Minnesota
Montana
Maine Maryland
Wisconsin Utah
Louisiana
Massachusetts New York Arkansas Alaska
Delaware Texas
Colorado New New Mexico
Pennsylvania
Jersey Alabama U.S. Average
9.0
% Connecticut Illinois Washington
Missouri Unemployment Rate: 9.4%
Indiana Ohio Idaho West Virginia
North Carolina
Georgia Mississippi
Kentucky
Oregon Tennessee
South Carolina
11.0
% Arizona
Rhode Island
Florida Michigan
California
13.0
% Change in US Average
Employment Rate: 5.5%
Above average
Nevada Unemployment rising unemployment
15.0
%
%
10.0 %
9.0 %
8.0 %
7.0 %
6.0 %
5.0 %
4.0 %
3.0 %
2.0 %
1.0 %
0.0
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Change in Employment Rate, 2000 to 2010
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 12 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

13. Near Term State Unemployment Rate
2007 to 2010
3.0
%
Below average Change in US Average
North
unemployment Employment Rate: 4.4%
Dakota
South Dakota Nebraska
5.0
%
New Hampshire
Vermont
Wyoming Hawaii Iowa
Virginia
Unemployment Rate, 2010
Kansas
7.0
% Oklahoma Minnesota
Montana
Maine
Utah Maryland Wisconsin
Louisiana Arkansas
New York Alaska
Delaware Texas
New Jersey New Mexico
Pennsylvania Massachusetts
Colorado U.S. Average
9.0
% Alabama Connecticut
Unemployment Rate: 9.4%
Idaho Arizona Missouri Illinois
Indiana Tennessee
West Virginia Ohio
North Carolina
Georgia Mississippi
Oregon Kentucky
11.0 South Washington
%
Carolina
Rhode Island
Florida Michigan
California
13.0
%
Nevada Above average
Unemployment rising
unemployment
15.0
%
%
10.0 %
9.0 %
8.0 %
7.0 %
6.0 %
5.0 %
4.0 %
3.0 %
2.0 %
1.0 %
0.0
Change in Employment Rate, 2007 to 2010
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 13 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

14. Long Term State Patenting Performance
U.S. States, 1999 to 2009
14
High but declining U.S. average Growth Rate
Idaho
of Patenting: -0.30% California
12
Vermont
Massachusetts Washington (+8.0%, 13.53)
Oregon (+4.9%, 10.31)
Patents per 10,000 Employees, 2009
10 Minnesota
High and improving
innovation rate versus U.S.
Connecticut
8 Delaware New Hampshire Michigan
New Jersey Colorado
New York U.S. average Patents per
Texas Utah 10,000 Employees: 5.96
6 Arizona
Wisconsin
Illinois North Carolina
Pennsylvania Rhode Island
Ohio Maryland
Iowa
4 Indiana
New Mexico Kansas Georgia
Florida Missouri
Virginia
Montana (-5.7%, 1.58) Nevada
South Carolina North Dakota
Louisiana (-6.0%, 1.34) Tennessee Wyoming
2 Kentucky
Arkansas (-6.9%, 0.76) Oklahoma Maine Nebraska
Alabama
West Virginia
Mississippi Hawaii
South Dakota Alaska
Low and declining Low but improving
0
-5% -4% -3% -2% -1% 0% 1% 2% 3%
Growth Rate of Patenting, 1999 to 2009
3,000 patents issued in 2009 =
Source: USPTO, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Note: Growth rate calculated as compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 14 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

15. Nebraska Patents by Organization
Patents Patents
Rank Organization Rank Organization
2005-2009 2005-2009
1 Sportsstuff, Inc. 71 25 Snyder Industries, Inc. 4
2 J. A. Woollam Co. Inc. 58 25 Weyerhaeuser Company 4
University Of Nebraska, The Board Of
3 Regents Of 50 25 Automatic Equipment Mfg. Co. 4
4 First Data Corporation 44 25 Gabriel Technologies, Inc. 4
5 Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. 25 25 Auburn Consolidated Industries, Inc. 4
6 West Corporation 18 25 Solutionary, Inc. 4
Exmark Manufacturing Company,
7 Baldwin Filters, Inc. 15 32 Incorporated 3
8 Centurion Wireless Technologies, Inc. 13 32 Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha 3
9 Goodyear Tire + Rubber Company 12 32 Lindsay Manufacturing Corporation 3
9 Monsanto Technology, Llc 12 32 Rowse Hydraulic Rakes Company, Inc. 3
11 Valmont Industries Inc. 11 32 Ttx Company 3
12 Li-Cor, Inc. 9 32 International Game Technology (Igt) 3
12 Teledyne Isco, Inc. 9 32 Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 3
14 Vishay Dale Electronics, Inc. 8 32 Ip Holdings, L.L.C. 3
Hewlett-Packard Development Company,
15 L.P. 7 32 Syngenta Participations Ag 3
16 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. 5 32 Paraclipse, Inc. 3
16 Creighton University 5 32 Powermate Corporation 3
16 J.C.Robinson Seed Company 5 32 Election Systems & Software, Inc. 3
16 Kroy Building Products, Inc. 5 32 Elemental Scientific Inc. 3
16 Magnesium Diagnostics, Inc. 5 45 Abbott Laboratories 2
16 Irwin Industrial Tool Company 5 45 Aero Industries, Inc. 2
16 Adc Incorporated 5 45 Cabela'S Inc. 2
16 Streck, Inc. 5 45 Cargill, Inc. 2
16 Wheatware Usa, Inc 5 45 Data Security, Inc. 2
25 Hornady Manufacturing Company 4 45 Delaware Capital Formation, Inc. 2
Universities and Research Institutions
Government Organizations
Note: Universities, research institutes, and government organizations are highlighted.
Source: Prof. Michael E. Porter, Cluster Mapping Project, Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School; Richard Bryden, Project Director.
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 15 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

16. The Impact of Cluster Mix and Cluster Strength on Wages
U.S. States, 2008
State Traded State Traded
Wage versus Relative Wage versus Relative
National Cluster Mix Cluster National Cluster Mix Cluster
State Average Effect Wage Effect State Average Effect Wage Effect
New York + 34,578 5,188 29,390 North Carolina -10,673 -5,131 -5,543
Connecticut + 20,008 6,898 13,109 Missouri -10,953 -1,634 -9,319
Massachusetts + 17,308 5,191 12,117 Rhode Island -11,089 -1,370 -9,719
New Jersey + 12,157 4,638 7,519 Florida -11,780 -1,473 -10,307
California + 9,597 121 9,476 Oklahoma -12,225 1,533 -13,758
Maryland + 6,435 2,778 3,657 Alabama -12,301 -4,713 -7,588
Washington + 4,827 3,058 1,769 Tennessee -13,063 -3,987 -9,076
Virginia + 2,550 945 1,605 Vermont -13,095 -2,936 -10,159
Illinois + 2,501 -61 2,562 Indiana -13,309 -5,495 -7,814
Alaska + 2,386 -3,044 5,431 Nebraska -14,659 41 -14,699
Texas +1,400 2,796 -1,396 Utah -14,947 327 -15,274
Colorado + 753 2,292 -1,539 South Carolina -15,256 -5,694 -9,562
Delaware + 612 13,346 -12,733 Nevada -15,429 -2,829 -12,600
Louisiana -4,172 573 -4,745 Maine -15,826 -726 -15,100
Minnesota -4,404 43 -4,448 North Dakota -16,437 2,940 -19,378
Wyoming -4,423 1,408 -5,831 Iowa -16,963 -2,602 -14,361
Michigan -4,981 -2,534 -2,447 New Mexico -16,991 -125 -16,866
Pennsylvania -5,182 -1,064 -4,118 Kentucky -17,303 -5,013 -12,291
New Hampshire -6,359 1,224 -7,584 West Virginia -17,357 -4,290 -13,067
Georgia -7,262 -1,923 -5,338 Arkansas -17,616 -5,171 -12,445
Arizona -8,662 1,557 -10,219 Hawaii -18,103 -14,124 -3,980
Kansas -8,828 1,820 -10,648 Idaho -18,636 -1,567 -17,069
Ohio -9,766 -1,436 -8,330 Mississippi -20,859 -6,165 -14,694
Oregon -9,774 -2,355 -7,420 South Dakota -21,211 955 -22,166
Wisconsin -10,479 -3,341 -7,138 Montana -22,488 -3,494 -18,994
Cluster mix: a region’s particular mix of lower and higher average wage clusters
Relative cluster wage: a region’s cluster wage relative to the average national wage in that cluster
The cluster mix and the cluster wage level effects add up to the total difference between a region’s average wage and the
national average wage. On average, the wage level effect is responsible for 76.3% of the total difference in state wages to the
national average.
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 16 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

17. Effect of Urban and Rural Areas on Average State Wages
U.S. States, 2008
Average Average
Overall Overall
Wage Relative Relative Wage Relative Relative
Difference Metro- Metro Rural Difference Metro- Metro Rural
State to U.S. Rural Mix Wage Wage State to U.S. Rural Mix Wage Wage
New York + 15,412 982 14,078 353 Nevada -4,560 815 -5,752 377
Connecticut + 10,919 1,013 9,592 315 Louisiana -4,739 -630 -4,764 655
Massachusetts + 10,197 1,674 8,333 190 Kansas -5,371 -2,175 -2,535 -661
New Jersey + 8,488 1,631 6,765 92 North Carolina -5,505 -1,262 -3,796 -446
Alaska + 6,538 -1,438 5,158 2,818 Tennessee -5,992 -538 -4,973 -481
California + 5,584 1,476 3,844 265 Florida -6,132 -128 -6,074 70
Illinois + 3,427 411 3,277 -261 Indiana -6,225 -630 -5,665 70
Washington + 3,013 832 2,122 58 Oklahoma -6,501 -2,030 -4,496 25
Delaware + 2,664 -191 2,895 -40 Hawaii -6,583 -1,892 -4,871 179
Maryland + 2,201 1,159 775 267 Utah -7,054 169 -7,273 50
Virginia +1,182 509 709 -36 Vermont -7,280 -6,080 -968 -232
Minnesota +1,024 -903 2,130 -202 Nebraska -7,419 -2,652 -3,621 -1,146
Colorado +539 -110 -66 714 Alabama -7,544 -1,206 -5,701 -636
Texas +325 350 -234 209 Maine -7,697 -2,479 -5,243 24
New Hampshire -504 -2,856 924 1,428 Kentucky -7,978 -2,179 -5,285 -515
Pennsylvania -1,184 262 -1,480 34 Iowa -8,096 -3,123 -4,509 -464
Michigan -1,785 -165 -1,576 -44 New Mexico -8,531 -1,843 -6,548 -140
Rhode Island -2,143 1,720 -3,846 -17 South Carolina -9,137 -609 -8,203 -325
Wyoming -2,478 -6,929 -2,304 6,755 Arkansas -9,482 -2,207 -6,283 -992
Georgia -3,136 -120 -2,542 -475 Idaho -9,766 -1,928 -6,872 -966
Ohio -3,925 -224 -3,799 98 North Dakota -9,973 -2,963 -6,607 -403
Arizona -3,962 937 -4,897 -2 West Virginia -10,074 -3,104 -7,013 43
Oregon -4,116 -359 -3,505 -251 South Dakota -10,976 -3,811 -5,475 -1,690
Wisconsin -4,336 -910 -3,419 -7 Mississippi -11,446 -4,569 -5,493 -1,383
Missouri -4,540 -573 -3,103 -865 Montana -11,792 -5,468 -5,495 -829
Metro-rural mix: average wage impact from a state’s relative proportion of metro and rural regions
Relative metro wage: average wage impact from state relative performance in metro regions
Relative rural wage: average wage impact from state relative performance in rural regions
On average 66.3% of the average wage gap in a state is due to the metro wage effect.
Note: Data are based on private, non-agricultural employment.
Source: Prof. Michael E. Porter, Cluster Mapping Project, Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School; Richard Bryden, Project Director.
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 17 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

18. Composition of the Nebraska Economy
and Cluster Performance
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 18 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

19. Composition of Regional Economies, United States
Traded Clusters
• Serve markets in other
regions and countries
• Free to choose location
• Exposed to competition
Local Clusters 27.4% of from other regions
employment
• Serve almost
37.3% of income
exclusively the
local market 71.7% of 96.4% of patents
employment
• Not exposed to
61.8% of income
cross-regional
competition for 3.5% of patents
employment Resource-based Clusters
• Location determined by
resource availability
• <1% of income,
Source: Michael E. Porter, Economic Performance of Regions, Regional Studies (2003); Updated via employment, and patents in
Cluster Mapping Project, Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School (2008)
the U.S.
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 19 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

20. Overall Composition of the Nebraska Economy, 2008
80%
70%
NE US
69.8% 71.7%
Private Employment
60%
50%
40%
Percent of Total
30%
NE
US
20% 30.0%
27.4%
10%
NE US
0.2% 0.9%
0%
Traded Clusters Local Clusters Natural Endowment
Dependent
Note: Data throughout this section of the report are based on private, non-agricultural employment.
Source: Prof. Michael E. Porter, Cluster Mapping Project, Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School; Richard Bryden, Project Director.
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 20 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

21. Composition of the Nebraska Economy
Employment by Traded Cluster, 2008
Rank in US
Business Services 34 44,203
Processed Food 14 38,218
Financial Services 26 23,784
Education and Know ledge Creation 34 16,558
Distribution Services 33 12,599
Heavy Machinery 8 12,567
Hospitality and Tourism 43 11,369
Heavy Construction Services 39 10,695
Automotive 23 9,331
Transportation and Logistics 38 8,946
Publishing and Printing 33 6,609
Medical Devices 22 6,047
Metal Manufacturing 37 5,545
Agricultural Products 17 4,943
Information Technology 37 4,218
Building Fixtures, Equipment and Services 34 3,880
Plastics 36 3,403
Production Technology 37 3,214
Entertainment 48 3,158
Prefabricated Enclosures 25 2,778
Communications Equipment 23 2,120
Chemical Products 38 2,091
Construction Materials 30 1,880
Analytical Instruments 40 1,472
Lighting and Electrical Equipment 34 1,370
Forest Products 43 1,060
Motor Driven Products 33 1,000
Biopharmaceuticals 36 935
Oil and Gas Products and Services 35 693
Textiles 40 413
Pow er Generation and Transmission 48 350
Furniture 45 307
Sporting, Recreational and Children's Goods 41 221
Apparel 41 210
Aerospace Engines 36 185
Leather and Related Products 45 140
Aerospace Vehicles and Defense 42 130
Jew elry and Precious Metals 47 50 Nebraska overall employment rank = 36
Footw ear 37 10
Fishing and Fishing Products 49 10
0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000 50,000
Employment, 2008
Note: Ranks are among the 50 US states plus the District of Columbia.
Source: Prof. Michael E. Porter, Cluster Mapping Project, Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School; Richard Bryden, Project Director.
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 21 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

22. Composition of the Nebraska Economy
Specialization by Traded Cluster, 1998 to 2008
4.0%
Overall change in the Nebraska Employment
Share of US Traded Employment: 1998-2008
Heavy Machinery +0.03.% Added Jobs
3.5%
Lost Jobs
Nebraska’s national employment share, 2008
3.0%
Processed Food
2.5%
2.0% Agricultural Products
(1.7%, +1.2%)
1.5% Medical Devices Prefabricated
Enclosures
Financial Services
Communications Equipment Business Services Construction
Materials
1.0%
Chemical Products
Nebraska Overall Share of US
Plastics
Traded Employment: 0.75%
0.5% Information Technology
Production Technology
Aerospace Engines
0.0%
-0.5% -0.4% -0.3% -0.2% -0.1% 0.0% 0.1% 0.2% 0.3% 0.4% 0.5%
Change in Nebraska share of National Employment, 1998 to 2008 Employees 8,000 =
Source: Prof. Michael E. Porter, Cluster Mapping Project, Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School; Richard Bryden, Project Director.
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 22 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter

23. Composition of the Nebraska Economy
Specialization by Traded Cluster, 1998 to 2008 (continued)
1.0%
Overall change in the Nebraska
Share of US Traded Employment:
+0.03.%
Business Services Automotive
Nebraska’s national employment share, 2008
0.8%
Heavy Construction Services Nebraska Overall Share of US
Traded Employment: 0.75%
Building Fixtures,
Publishing and Printing
Equipment and Services
Distribution Services
0.6% Lighting and Electrical Equipment
Metal Manufacturing
Education and Knowledge Creation
Transportation and
Hospitality and Tourism Logistics
0.4%
Biopharmaceuticals Motor Driven Products
Analytical Instruments Sporting, Recreational
Entertainment Forest Products and Children's Goods
0.2% Power Generation and
Transmission Employment
Oil and Gas Products Textiles 1998-2008
Furniture
and Services Apparel Added Jobs
Lost Jobs
0.0%
-0.2% -0.2% -0.1% -0.1% 0.0% 0.1% 0.1% 0.2%
Change in Nebraska share of National Employment, 1998 to 2008 Employees 8,000 =
Source: Prof. Michael E. Porter, Cluster Mapping Project, Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, Harvard Business School; Richard Bryden, Project Director.
NGA 2011 – Nebraska 23 Copyright © 2011 Professor Michael E. Porter