Ian Vásquez

Ian Vásquez is director of the Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity at the Cato Institute.

Recent Research by Ian Vásquez

— Jan 26, 2023
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Human Freedom Index 2022

According to this year’s Human Freedom Index, for the first time since 2012, Canada does not rank among the top 10 freest countries worldwide.

— Dec 16, 2021
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The Human Freedom Index 2021

This year’s Human Freedom Index finds that, even before COVID and the response from governments worldwide, global freedom was on the wane.

— Dec 17, 2020
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The Human Freedom Index 2020

This year’s Human Freedom Index, which spotlights 162 countries, measures personal freedom—which includes freedom of movement, speech, assembly and religion—alongside economic freedom, the ability of individuals to make their own economic decisions without government or crony interference. New Zealand tops this year’s freedom index followed by Switzerland, Hong Kong, Denmark and Australia. The five least-free countries are (in descending order) Iran, Yemen, Venezuela, Sudan and Syria. Rankings for other significant countries include Canada (6th), Germany (9th), the United Kingdom and the United States (tied for 17th).