Two different U.S. states: Each has economic development programs for “opportunity zones,” grants, or tax credits for companies that create jobs; investment capital for new tech-based companies; and industry-based job training programs. One state, Alabama, is the most conservative in the country.1 The other, Vermont, is the most liberal. One state voted for Trump and the other for Biden. One loves NASCAR and the other Ben & Jerry’s ice cream.

But when it comes to economic development policy there is virtually no daylight between the two. And we see the same thing within these states, where Republicans and Democrats generally support the same economic development policies. That’s because many state officials, at least when it comes to figuring out how to make sure their state economies thrive, are pragmatists. A key reason is that, unlike in Washington, where ideologically driven policies almost never get tested against reality, state officials face the harsh reality of having to compete economically every day. They can’t afford to let ideology get in the way of what works.