Columbus, OH – In 2024, Ohio fell two spots in the Economic Freedom of North America 2024 report, ranking 35th out of all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The report, released by The Buckeye Institute in partnership with Canada’s Fraser Institute, ranks all states and provinces in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico based on economic freedom, measured by government spending, taxation, and labor-market freedom. 

“While Ohio’s score in taxation is commendable and its score in labor-market freedom is decent, its score in government spending, particularly as that spending relates to the state’s stressed public pension system, continues to be a massive drag on its overall ranking,” said Zachary D. Cady, associate economist at The Buckeye Institute. “If Ohio is to improve its ranking, its leaders must get serious about reining in the state’s overspending and confronting its looming pension problems.”

This year, Ohio ranks 35th out of the 50 American states and Puerto Rico, scoring 6.04. While Ohio ranks quite low on government spending, coming in at 45th, the state ranks much better when it comes to taxation and labor-market freedom, coming in at 18th and 29th, respectively.

The report’s latest edition uses a revised methodology to score states on their government spending, taxation, and regulations. The current rankings are based on data from 2022 (the latest year data was available). 

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