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.