How Free Is the State You Live in?

Elise Daniel

December 13, 2013

Yesterday, the Fraser Institute released its annual report, Economic Freedom of North America 2013. The report measures the impact government restrictions have on economic freedom in the United States and Canada, taking into account:

Size of government
Takings and discriminatory taxation
Regulation
Legal system and property rights
Sound money
Freedom to trade internationally

The research found a positive relationship between economic freedom and overall flourishing. The freer states showed higher growth rates, more entrepreneurial activity, and an increase in the growth of income in the lowest income quintile.

According to the report, the freest state is Delaware, closely followed by Texas and Nevada. The least free states are Mississippi and West Virginia, with New Mexico coming in dead last.

But to my surprise, Alberta and Saskatchewan were rated freer than any U.S. state. So the next time someone jokes about moving to Canada, I might take them a little more seriously.

How free is your state? See the full report and leave your comments here.

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Elise Daniel

Elise Daniel is a contributing writer for the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics. She is the creative director at Bellwether Communications and has previously worked with the Values & Capitalism project at A.E.I. and the Acton Institute. Her articles have been published in Real Clear Religion, The Detroit News, Relevant Magazine, and AFF Doublethink. She has a BBA in Economics from James Madison University.