Governors, economists and business leaders have spent years studying how to increase the per-capita income of South Carolina, which rates well below the national average.

But a quick, tongue-in-cheek analysis of federal statistics by The State suggests that the answer for the Palmetto State is a 13-hour drive away.

South Carolina made little progress during 2003. The state ranked 42nd nationally in per capita personal income in 2003, losing its spot at 41st to Kentucky. South Carolinians earned $108 billion last year, or $26,132 for every man, woman and child in the state. That’s 83 percent of the $31,632 earned by the average U.S. citizen.

But not all states are average.

Take Connecticut.

More to the point, take 1.9 million Connecticut Yankees to South Carolina.

The average resident of Connecticut earned $43,173 last year, tops in the nation.

By moving themselves and their incomes, they would raise South Carolina’s average to $36,632, matching the national average.

Of course, the U.S. average will probably grow too, so we might need to fetch a few extra thousand Connecticut residents. With Connecticut’s population of 3.5 million, they should have plenty to spare.

Most should adjust nicely. They have the shore; we have the beach. They have fathers; we have daddies. They have greens; we eat greens.

Gov. Mark Sanford was elected in 2002 on a campaign that emphasized raising per capita income.

“We’ve wanted to make South Carolina as competitive as possible ... so people from all parts of the country would consider moving here to raise a family and start a business,” said Sanford spokesman Will Folks.

Folks said moving Connecticut residents to South Carolina has not yet been considered by Sanford or his cabinet, but Folks said he would call The State should Sanford take up the proposal.

— Jim DuPlessis