JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – When it comes to attracting and retaining businesses that contribute to economic growth, Mississippi isn’t competitive at all, a new report says.

The eighth edition of the Beacon Hill Institute’s Competitiveness Report ranks Mississippi last among the nation’s 50 states. Massachusetts took the top spot, while Alabama and Louisiana ranked 48th and 49th, just ahead of Mississippi in the report released Wednesday.

Mississippi also ranked last in 2006 and 49th last year.

The competitiveness index is based on 43 indicators that evaluate government and fiscal policy, security, infrastructure, personnel, technology, business incubation, openness and environmental policy. The report lists competitive advantages and disadvantages for each state.

BHI is the research arm of the Department of Economics at Suffolk University in Boston.