The beauty of New York State, if one sticks around long enough, generally results in anger.
In Upstate New York, it’s usually a full-on temper tantrum.
Sure, we’re supposed to run our own race, but the head, whether intentionally or not, often turns west.
There, somewhere near the Great Lakes, lie places like Columbus (OH), Indianapolis (IN), Madison (WI), and Grand Rapids (MI).
They’re all growing.
Even worse is Fort Wayne. Fort Freakin’ Wayne, Indiana, is growing, too!
New York State, of course, likes to make excuses for itself—mother nature and bad luck are two favorites.
The Cato Institute, however, has identified the best explanation of all—ineptitude.
In case you don’t know, the Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank founded in 1977 and headquartered in Washington, DC.
One of the founders was Charles Koch—in other words, nothing in life is pure. Regardless, the gist of the institute’s philosophy boils down to limited government, free markets, and individual liberty, the ultimate goal being for locales to meet its definition of freedom.
In that regard, in 2023, the institute published its most recent Freedom in the 50 States report, focused on personal and economic freedom and resulting in an overall freedom ranking.
At number 50, a spot it has occupied since the first report in 2000, was none other than New York State.
Personal freedom is not the issue—New Yorkers can chomp on marijuana, gamble, and do whatever else it is that makes them feel free.
Economic freedom, on the other hand, is a disaster, leading to the disastrous overall score.
To paraphrase the Cato Institute’s own words:
New York’s greatest challenge is the monstrous culture Big Government has created — one marked by waste, incompetence and sclerosis.
Simply put, people can’t handle the crushing taxes and labor regulations.
The Empire State just can’t get things done anymore.
Things weren’t always rotten. In 1962, New York’s state-level tax burden was lower than the national average.
But progressive programs required major tax and spending hikes, which in turn attracted interest groups eager to get a slice of the pie.
Ideologues and concentrated interests gained enough influence in the Legislature to steer policy, creating regulatory sludge that gummed up innovation and commerce.
Manufacturers compete in a global marketplace, so when you drive up their costs, they have the choice of going out of business or moving production elsewhere.
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.
And how about those other places, the ones to the west, where despite frigid air and reliable snow, humans are moving?
What are their overall freedom rankings?
Ohio: 21
Wisconsin: 13
Indiana: 10
Michigan: 7
Are you surprised?
