# NH Has Low Public Corruption — Cato Expert 

Most places in America could learn a lot from New Hampshire.

July 16, 2025 • News Releases 

I wanted to pass along [a new piece](https://www.cato.org/blog/where-public-corruption-highest) titled **“Where Is Public Corruption the Highest?”** by Cato Institute Kilts Family Chair in Fiscal Studies [Chris Edwards](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fwww.cato.org*2Fpeople*2Fchris-edwards/1/01000198138bfbf6-b55b182a-d776-4031-8ea3-10071aaf5234-000000/faxTnICWOn-kjHasALuzTv5awFY=435___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjIwOTFmMzczNDk4NWVmZDNjZTc1ODQ3ZjljYjkwODkyOjc6MDM1NjpmNjg4M2JjZGY1YjYwMGZkOGVkYzcxYTM3MmRkZmM1Mzg3MWU0NjQ0MzQ4ZjJkNjNmNTIyY2I2OGNmOTRkY2MzOmg6VDpO) and Research Associate Yasmeen Kallash-Kyler.

The authors explore [US Department of Justice (DOJ) data](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov*2Fcriminal*2Fcriminal-pin*2Fannual-reports/1/01000198138bfbf6-b55b182a-d776-4031-8ea3-10071aaf5234-000000/7RqW3pfKoGWWRfpNm9rtMit-q34=435___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjIwOTFmMzczNDk4NWVmZDNjZTc1ODQ3ZjljYjkwODkyOjc6ZjExYjpiMTc1NTkzMjY0MGJlNWE3YzJjY2JhOGE2ZGVjMGZlYWM0NzE4NDI4MmQzNTgwMDFiYjdlM2ExZjZmOTZiNTIyOmg6VDpO) on public corruption convictions in the nation’s 94 federal judicial districts. New Orleans and Lexington ranked near the top in both periods, while New Hampshire and Utah were near the bottom.

The authors write:

> Most places in America could learn a lot from New Hampshire. It has the lowest public corruption in the nation, according to this conviction metric. And—perhaps not coincidentally—it is the [**freest state in the nation**](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fwww.freedominthe50states.org*2F/1/01000198138bfbf6-b55b182a-d776-4031-8ea3-10071aaf5234-000000/hnH2M21yoMRhJP75K2if1G88kIc=435___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOjIwOTFmMzczNDk4NWVmZDNjZTc1ODQ3ZjljYjkwODkyOjc6MTM1NzozZTM5NThkNzk0MGY3OWUzYzBiN2ZkMTA1Mjk2ZDg1ZTUzNWY5Y2ZhZGY0ZmQ3MjUwOTBjMDYxYTZhNmVjNzdjOmg6VDpO) with one of the smallest governments.

If you would like to speak with Edwards, please contact [pr@​cato.​org](mailto:pr@cato.org) to set up an interview.

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