"Economic Freedom Index" Mirrors Red State-Blue State Divide

The Pacific Research Institute has released its 185-page 2004 U.S. Economic Freedom Index which ranks the 50 states on their "Economic Freedom" using these criteria:

The Index measures, compares, and ranks states based on more than 100 variables using the most recent data from government and industry sources. The report  exmines five types of government intervention: fiscal, regulatory, judicial, size of government, and welfare. The variables include such things as tax rates, state spending, occupational licensing, environmental regulations, income redistribution, right-to-work and prevailing-wage laws, tort laws, and the number of government agencies.

The 50-state ranking has a decided Red State-Blue State flavor: 23 of the 25 (and 28 of the 33) "most free" states are Red States that voted for President Bush, while 9 of the 10 (and 14 of the 17) "least free" states are Blue States that voted for Senator Kerry:

Note the eerie similarity with the 2004 presidential election map:

For prior Red State-Blue State tax posts, see:

• Red States Feed at Federal Trough, Blue States Supply the Feed
• Red State, Blue State Update
• 50-State "Business Tax Friendliness" Ranking: Red States Chummy, Blue States Chilly
• Bush Tax Reform Favors Red States Over Blue States