…A new economic study shows that the western United States is outperforming the rest of the country in job creation, personal income, and population growth, and that protected federal lands–such as national parks, monuments, and wilderness–are providing western states with a competitive economic advantage that has helped create more jobs and increase per capita income. The outdoor quality of life has also enabled rural and urban western communities to recruit entrepreneurs and retain talented employees, leading to a diverse and growing economy.…