North Carolina ranks No. 4 among the 50 states in economic competitiveness, thanks largely to the sweeping tax reform package approved two years ago. That’s the assessment from “Rich States, Poor States,” a publication of the American Legislative Exchange Council.

Jonathan Williams of ALEC’s Center for State Fiscal Reform shared that highlight and outlined state spending and tax challenges facing all 50 states during a speech Monday for the John Locke Foundation’s Shaftesbury Society.

The 2013 tax reforms helped North Carolina leap from the middle of the pack into the nation’s top five, Williams said. In the video clip below, he assesses the Tar Heel State’s recent compliance with sound tax principles.

Click here to watch the full 52:53 event.