Northeast, except for New Hampshire is economically oppressed.

Special features page has an interactive map showing rankings of the states.

You will note that the states on the bottom of the list are those running huge budget deficits which will get worse as people flee the liberal policies causing the problems. Also these states are controlled by Democrat Legislatures. Nothing like failure to promote yourself.

New Report Reveals Which States Have Most Economic Freedom

San Francisco – The Pacific Research Institute (PRI), a free-market think tank based in California, today released the U.S. Economic Freedom Index: 2008 Report, a ranking of economic freedom in the 50 states. [snip]
The net migration rate for the 20 freest states was 27.36 people per 1,000, while it was a low 1.17 people per 1,000 for the 20 most economically oppressed states. “People are moving to the freest states and fleeing the least free states…{snip]

[snip]…The Index score ranges from 1 (most free) to 50 (least free), and state rankings were derived from the index scores. The Index collected and ranked 143 indicators comprised of 209 underlying variables from five sectors (fiscal, regulatory, judicial, size of government, and welfare spending) for each state to measure how friendly, or unfriendly, each state’s government policies are toward free enterprise and consumer choice.

The Results

South Dakota is # 1
As the most economically free state, South Dakota has no corporate income tax, no personal income tax, no personal property tax, no business inventory tax, and no inheritance tax. South Dakota’s business climate is thriving and companies are relocating and opening plants in the state. In 2007, the Small Business Survival Foundation ranked South Dakota as the best business climate for entrepreneurs. In 2008, Forbes magazine ranked Sioux Falls as the best smaller metro area for business and careers. Moreover, the state has faired well in other indexes measuring items such as inbound migration (United Van Lines) and the cost of doing business in the state (Milken Institute).
Great Plains and Rocky Mountain States Most Free
South Dakota, Idaho, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, and Oklahoma rank among the top 10 most economically free states in the nation.
Northeast States Most Economically Oppressed
The states that are the least economically free are clustered in the densely populated states of the Northeast including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and New York.
Most Improved States in the Upper Midwest
An economic-freedom renaissance has been undergoing in the Upper Midwest. South Dakota made a big leap in relative economic freedom from 2004 to 2008 advancing 14 places, even bigger were Minnesota, Illinois, and Wisconsin, jumping 18, 19, and 20 places, respectively. Lawrence J. McQuillan, Ph.D., explains that “when one state reforms it puts pressure on its neighbors to improve or be at a competitive disadvantage for attracting people and capital.”
States with Biggest Drops
States heading in the wrong direction include Texas which fell 14 spots; Alaska, Delaware, and North Carolina each dropping 12 spots; and Arizona falling by 10 places.
A full list of all 50 states and their rankings and the data underlying the rankings can be found below. [snip]

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Special Features Pages

Archived in: Democrats, Economy, Progressives, Socialism, Taxation