New York Ranked 'Least Free State' in 2022 by Cato Institute

High taxes, regulatory environment, and debt contribute to the state's low ranking, despite better scores in specific personal freedoms.

The Cato Institute's 'Freedom in the 50 States' study has ranked New York as the least free state in the U.S. for the year 2022, based on 230 different metrics including taxation, debt, and various personal and economic freedoms.
New York's economic freedom is identified as its most significant weakness, ranking 50th due to high state and local taxes, high regulatory environment, and the highest debt in the country at 26.1% of income.
The state did maintain higher rankings under specific personal freedoms, ranking ninth in incarceration, 16th under cannabis regulations and 20th in marriage freedom, but scored low on gun rights and tobacco freedom.
New York has consistently ranked as the least free state in every year since the Cato Institute's data set began in 2000.
The Cato Institute suggests that New York can improve its rankings by reducing spending and taxes, paying down debt, and abolishing rent control laws.