This study ranks the American states according to how their public policies affect individual freedoms in the economic, social, and personal spheres. Updating, expanding, and improving upon the five previous editions of Freedom in the 50 States, the 2021 edition examines state and local government intervention across a wide range of policy categories—from tax burdens to court systems, from eminent domain laws to occupational licensing, and from homeschooling regulation to drug and vaping policy. The authors have also included a new section that analyzes how state COVID-19 responses have affected freedom since the pandemic began. By discussing significant policy changes and trends, readers will walk away with a strong sense of the state of freedom in the states today.

Freedom in the 50 States remains an essential reference for scholars, policymakers, and concerned citizens interested in advancing a better understanding of a free society.