Nevertheless, it's quite obvious that high growth states do not have extensive toll roads, and the top ranked have none. While the bottom 10 states for growth have a great many toll roads.
And you forgot about all those pay-to-drive Autoroutes in that economic powerhouse, France. I'll take the free Autobahns in Germany any day.
The economic theory of toll roads is their problem. If governments charge a toll on the "good" roads, they provide negative incentive for travel, and *all* travel powers the economy, if only to buy gas, tires, and cars. If private companies operate toll roads, it can only be if they've rigged the game to disallow competition. Roads are natural monopolies, because if two toll roads were to go to the same destination, they would quickly compete until one went out of business. And then a monopoly would exist.
There are *very* few things that government is in the best position to do, and roads is one of them.
I have zero financial interest in toll roads other than being a taxpayer. Once again you jumped to the wrong conclusion. All I have is a map and common sense, you might be wise to seek both.