Study: N.H. ranks at top of heap in economic freedom

Gov. Chris Sununu (Courtesy photo)

CONCORD - Gov. Chris Sununu today hailed the release of a Fraser Institute's 2019 Economic Freedom Report that ranks New Hampshire as the number one state for economic freedom.

In addition the Granite State was the only state in New England to receive a top-ten ranking.

"New Hampshire has led the nation in streamlining government regulation to allow job-creators the opportunity to grow and expand," the governor said. "Our pro-jobs, pro-growth economic agenda is paying off for New Hampshire families, allowing them the freedom to spend their money as they see fit. The release of this study reaffirms that New Hampshire remains the best state in the nation to live, work, and raise a family - and we're just getting started."

The Fraser Institute's report follows earlier reports which show that New Hampshire has the lowest poverty rate in the nation over the last three years, is the most popular place in the Northeast for millennials to locate, has more people working than ever before, and is the number one state for taxpayer return on investment.

Massachusetts ranked 17th and Maine 36th.

The Fraser Institute's report measures "the extent to which...the policies of individual provinces and states were supportive of economic freedom, (and) the ability of individuals to act in the economic sphere free of undue restrictions." A copy of the report can be found here.