Jason Sorens

View Hi-Res Image

Jason Sorens

  • Affiliated Scholar, Mercatus Center
  • Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Buffalo (SUNY)

Jason Sorens is an assistant professor in the political science department at the University at Buffalo (SUNY). He has been an affiliated scholar with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University since 2008. His primary research interests include fiscal federalism, public policy in federal systems, secessionism, and ethnic politics. His work has been published in International Studies Quarterly, Comparative Political Studies, Journal of Peace Research, State Politics and Policy Quarterly, and other academic journals, and his book Secessionism: Identity, Interest, and Strategy was published by McGill-Queen¹s University Press in 2012. Sorens received his BA in economics and philosophy, with honors, from Washington and Lee University and his PhD in political science from Yale University.

Published Research

Freedom in the 50 States: An Index of Personal and Economic Freedom

Jason Sorens, William Ruger | Feb 26, 2009
This paper presents the first-ever comprehensive ranking of the American states on their public policies affecting individual freedoms in the economic, social, and personal spheres. It develops and…

Policy Briefs

Freedom in Oregon

William Ruger, Jason Sorens | Jun 08, 2011
This Mercatus on Policy uses data from the Freedom in the 50 States study to focus specifically on Oregon and how it compares to other states in its fiscal, regulatory, economic and personal freedom.

Freedom in Pennsylvania

William Ruger, Jason Sorens | Jun 08, 2011
This Mercatus on Policy uses data from the Freedom in the 50 States study to focus specifically on Pennsylvania and how it compares to other states in its fiscal, regulatory, economic and personal freedom.

Freedom in Virginia

William Ruger, Jason Sorens | Jun 08, 2011
This Mercatus on Policy uses data from the Freedom in the 50 States study to focus specifically on Virginia and how it compares to other states in its fiscal, regulatory, economic and personal freedom.

Freedom in Florida

William Ruger, Jason Sorens | Jun 08, 2011
This Mercatus on Policy uses data from the Freedom in the 50 States study to focus specifically on Florida and how it compares to other states in its fiscal, regulatory, economic and personal freedom.

Media Clippings

State Ranks Dead Last in Personal Freedom

Jason Sorens, William Ruger | Mar 29, 2013
Outlet: New York Post

New York Least Free State, North Dakota The Most, Study Finds

Jason Sorens, William Ruger | Mar 28, 2013
Outlet: The Huffington Post

So to Speak: Ohio no paragon of freedom, except for bears and such

Jason Sorens, William Ruger | Oct 20, 2011
Outlet: Columbus Dispatch

The 'Myth' of Tax Flight

William Ruger, Jason Sorens | Aug 12, 2011
Outlet: Carolina Journal
More Media Clippings

Expert Commentary

Interstate Protectionism and the Dormant Commerce Clause

Pileus
By Jason Sorens |
May 10, 2013

All 50 states ban the direct sales of motor vehicles from manufacturers to consumers. The politics of this regrettable policy are clear: auto dealers are powerful political players in every state, while only a few states actually have manufacturing facilities. Banning direct manufacturer sales benefits dealers while hurting manufacturers and consumers.

Freedom and Migration: More Numbers

Pileus
By Jason Sorens |
Apr 30, 2013

In Freedom in the 50 States, we present some statistical results on the association between the three dimensions of freedom — fiscal, regulatory, and personal — and “net interstate migration,” that is, the number of movers into a state from other states minus the number of movers from a state to other states, divided by initial population. We found that all three dimensions are positively associated with net in-migration, usually statistically significantly so. Moreover, the substantive importance of the associations is large. A half-point increase in each of the three dimensions, measured in 2001, is associated with between two and five percentage points more in-migration from 2000 to 2011, as a percentage of 2000 population.

How Free Is New England?

The Providence Journal
By William Ruger, Jason Sorens |
Apr 17, 2013

Ever since immigrants seeking liberty began arriving on its shores centuries ago, New England has been a symbol of freedom for the rest of the world. It has hosted the Pilgrims, birthed the American Revolution and sparked the Abolitionist Movement. But today many Americans see it as a place where government has grown too large and intrusive.

Californians Stifled By Lack of Freedoms

San Diego Union-Tribune
By William Ruger, Jason Sorens |
Apr 08, 2013

If you’re finding it harder and harder to live in California, you’re not alone.
More Expert Commentary