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The mission of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy is to advocate for freedom. We promote policies that let Michigan residents lead lives uninhibited by harmful or arbitrary government regulations.
The Mackinac Center’s most recent Issues & Ideas forum at the Freedom Embassy in Lansing brought together like-minded individuals to learn more about how Michigan’s policies measure up against those of other states.
“How Free Are We? Where Michigan Ranks on the Freedom Scale” featured William Ruger and Jason Sorens from the American Institute for Economic Research. The two presented findings from their latest edition of “Freedom in the 50 States,” published by the Cato Institute.
Ruger and Sorens’ index features more than 230 policy variables that influence freedom across states. The research distinguishes between economic freedom and personal freedom, analyzing policies that add to or subtract from individual liberty.
In economic freedom — which includes fiscal and regulatory subcategories — Michigan took 10th place. In personal freedom — which includes 12 subcategories ranging from incarceration and arrests to campaign finance — Michigan landed at 19th. Michigan’s lowest ranking is in educational freedom, 48th in the nation.
The findings suggest that freedom is positively associated with economic growth and population growth through in-migration. States compete for residents and businesses, which can enhance liberty and quality of life. Ruger and Sorens emphasized that states with higher freedom levels tend to attract more people, supporting economic vitality.
Michigan continues to struggle with high rates of emigration. Policies that cut spending on higher-than- average budget areas, Sorens and Ruger argued, can create a more attractive environment for residents and businesses alike, promoting growth and stability.
