The U.S. Economic Freedom Index: 2004 Report is an important tool, grounded in rigorous statistical analysis, for measuring how friendly (or unfriendly) each state government is toward free enterprise and consumer choice. By providing a metric of economic freedom, the Index also encourages a discussion in public forums and in state legislatures about each state's level of economic freedom, areas for policy reform, and the consequences of inaction. As the report shows, two effects of limiting economic freedom are that people flee economically oppressive states and residents are made poorer, both outcomes merit further reflection.