GMU Study: Virginia is No. 9 in Freedom Ranking

Virginia is ranked as the ninth "freest" state according to a new study from George Mason University.

The study focused on state and local policies that effect the personal and economic freedoms of residents and business owners. States with flexible fiscal spending (think government spending and taxation), lifestyle (tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, guns), and regulatory (land use, labor market, health insurance, occupational licensing) rules earned high freedom marks.

GMU's Mercatus Center attributed Virginia's freedom ranking to a lower-than-national-average tax burden, high education expectations, and extensive insurance coverage mandates. Keep scrolling for an outline of the study's findings.

At the end of the study, researchers noticed a link between the freedom ranking of a state and its population growth.

"States that have greater and greater burdens on their citizens, not only in terms of their wallet, but in terms of their social life, these are states that are losing citizens to states that are more free," said Will Ruger, assistant professor of political science at Texas State University and Mercatus Center scholar.

Virginia, noted as the "freest state in the South," seems to buck that trend. Though the study shows a 2.4 percent growth in population between 2000-2009, other less free states, like North Carolina and Kentucky show similar growth. West Virginia, No. 36, saw .9 percent growth. Only Maryland seems to fit the bill (ranked 43, -1.8 percent pop. growth).

Other Virginia findings:

• Tax burden, government spending and debt are all well below national averages.
• State and local government employment is around the national average.
• Gun laws are decent, with much room for improvement. However, open carry is allowed.
• Virginia is schizophrenic on education, requiring 13 years of mandatory schooling, including kindergarten attendance, and imposing significant standardized-testing and notification requirements on homeschoolers, but otherwise leaving both private and homeschools alone.
• The state has below average numbers of arrests for victimless crimes, and its drug law-enforcement rate is also quite respectable (especially among its Southern peers). However, Virginia’s asset-forfeiture laws could really be improved.
• As one might expect given its history with tobacco, Virginia’s cigarette tax is quite low and smoking is not banned in private workplaces. However, it does have some smoking restrictions.
• Spirits tax rate is the third highest in the country.
• Like Hawaii and Pennsylvania, Virginia has no form of community rating for health insurance. However, coverage mandates are extensive. Virginia has more than just about any other state, adding significantly to the cost of insurance.

Click here to see how other states ranked.