According to a survey released by the libertarian-leaning think tank The Cato Institute, New York has once again been dubbed “the least free state” in America.
According to the research, the Empire State placed 50th out of all states in terms of policies that affect social, economic, and personal liberties in 2022. In contrast, Florida was the second most free state in the US, behind New Hampshire.
New York came in at or near the bottom for debt, state and municipal taxes, government consumption, land usage, and labor regulation. It was placed 50th for economic freedom.
“New York’s terrible economic freedom score is going to continue to drag the state down—and harm its ability to realize its full economic potential,” William Ruger and Jason Sorens, who authored the Cato report, stated. “Combined, state and local taxes are crushing. Debt is down from years past but is still the highest in the country at 26.1 percent of income.”
“It is little wonder that New Yorkers are fleeing the state in droves. New Yorkers have been voting with their feet for years, leaving a state with such a glorious past and a great magnet supercity in part because of its stifling policies that restrict freedom and opportunity. New York outpaced all other states by far in terms of net out-migration to other states,” Ruger told The New York Post.
Rich people in New York City pay some of the highest total state and local income taxes in the nation, with the top rate being close to 15%. Suburban school and property taxes are crushing.
Since Cato began analyzing data in 2000, New York has placed worst in every study that has been conducted. However, the institute gave NY greater scores for legalizing marijuana and for having lower imprisonment rates: with regard to its criminal justice policies, New York came in at number nine, which is the highest ranking for any state.
Due to its prohibitive laws on public smoking and high cigarette taxes ($6.85 per pack, second only to Illinois’ $7.16 per pack), the Empire State was ranked 49th for tobacco freedom. Cato advises New York politicians to eliminate rent control legislation, reduce taxes and expenditures, and pay off debt.
