Among the frustrations voiced by Occupy protesters in cities across the United States is a lack of economic opportunity for the overwhelming majority of Americans, the “99 percent.” With unemployment sitting at or above 9 percent for more than two years, many Americans are certainly struggling to find satisfying jobs. But new research reveals that blame should be directed at our rapidly expanding federal and state governments and the resulting decline in economic freedom.

Economic freedom is the ability of individuals to benefit voluntarily from mutually beneficial transactions without significant intervention by government.