World Survey Of Economic Freedom

The World Survey of Economic Freedom re-ports on eighty-two nations in the Americas, Western Europe, Central East Europe, and NIS (Newly Independent States), Asia, the Middle East, and Africa surveyed by Freedom House during 1995. For each nation, background information is provided, as well as answers to questions about freedom to hold property, to earn a living, to operate a business, to invest one's earnings, to trade internationally, to participate in a market economy, and freedom from unreasonable government interference in the economy. By focusing attention on nations in which economic freedom is denied, and in which individuals are not free to buy, sell, and trade in a market economy, this Freedom House survey advances the cause of democracy.

Derives an indicator for economic freedom based on personal choice, protection of private property, and freedom of exchange. Considers levels and trends in economic freedom, and their correlation with economic growth in 103 countries.

The World Survey of Economic Freedom re-ports on eighty-two nations in the Americas, Western Europe, Central East Europe, and NIS (Newly Independent States), Asia, the Middle East, and Africa surveyed by Freedom House during 1995. For each nation, background information is provided, as well as answers to questions about freedom to hold property, to earn a living, to operate a business, to invest one's earnings, to trade internationally, to participate in a market economy, and freedom from unreasonable government interference in the economy. By focusing attention on nations in which economic freedom is denied, and in which individuals are not free to buy, sell, and trade in a market economy, this Freedom House survey advances the cause of democracy.

About the Members of the Economic Freedom Network / 235 Economic Freedom of the World: 2010 Annual Report v Executive Summary Economic Freedom of the World The index published in Economic Freedom of the World measures the degree to which the policies and institutions of countries are supportive of economic freedom. [...] Chapter 1: Economic Freedom of the World, 2008 The principal authors of the report, James Gwartney (Florida State University), Robert Lawson (Auburn University), and Joshua Hall (Beloit College), review the causes of the financial crisis and the recession. [...] The authors also review the history of the economic freedom project and describe the construction of the index. [...] Given the large costs of unemployment and the enormous number of jobless people worldwide, particularly in the wake of the current financial and economic crisis, governments should consider increasing economic freedom as a means of reducing unemployment. [...] The length and severity of the Great 2 Chapter 1: Economic Freedom of the World, 2008 Depression were the result of a sharp monetary con- to use resources productively and discover better ways traction, imposition of trade restrictions, higher taxes, of doing things is the driving force underlying economic increases in government spending financed with debt, growth and progress.

The index published in Economic freedom of the world measures the degree to which the policies and institutions of countries are supportive of economic freedom. The cornerstones of economic freedom are personal choice, voluntary exchange, freedom to compete, and security of privately owned property.