<p><strong><em>Freedom in the 50 States</em></strong>&nbsp;is one of the most comprehensive and definitive sources on how public policies in each American state impact an individual's economic, social, and personal freedoms. </p><p><br></p><p>William P. Ruger and Jason Sorens score all 50 states on their overall respect for individual freedom, and also on their respect for three dimensions of freedom considered separately: fiscal policy, regulatory policy, and personal freedom. To calculate these scores, they weight public policies based on the estimated costs that individuals suffer when government restricts their freedoms.</p><p><br></p><p>This 2023 edition improves on the methodology for weighting and combining state and local policies to create a comprehensive index. The authors introduce new policy variables suggested by readers and changes in the broader policy environment, which include but are not limited to a battery of state-level land-use laws affecting housing, new occupational licensing measures, and qualified immunity limitations.&nbsp;</p>