Neal's Workshop

Found via the WSJ Opinion Journal, an article discussing the results of research conducted by The Pacific Research Institute used to construct the U.S. Economic Freedom Index.

From the Opinion Journal:

In 2005, per capita personal income grew 31% faster in the 15 most economically free states than it did in the 15 states at the bottom of the list. And employment growth was a staggering 216% higher in the most free states.

Proponents of the free market argue that competition is good and monopolies are bad. Monopoly of government is even worse.

The migration of people from less free to more free states is further evidence of this economic conjecture about competition. A government is incentivized to be a low cost provider to it's inhabitants or else they will leave (Remember the Berlin Wall? That was to keep people in!).

Competition is good. And wouldn't you know it? More economic freedom seems to be the driver for more inhabitants to move to your state. Similarly, the U.S. as a nation attracts inhabitants from other, less-free nations. Imagine if the world allowed for open borders. Bad (More interventionist) governments would be eliminated and good (Less interventionist) governments would thrive. To some extent, this is what is happening.

Guess which states were at the bottom of this list? New York (#50) and California (#49). Georgia was at least in the top half (#19).

Sonny Perdue still sucks.