Since 1997, the Fraser Institute has conducted an annual survey of metal mining and exploration companies to assess how mineral endowments and public policy factors such as taxation and regulation affect exploration investment. Survey results represent the opinions of executives and exploration managers in mining and mining consulting companies operating around the world. The survey now includes data on 79 jurisdictions around the world, on every continent except Antarctica, including sub-national jurisdictions in Canada, Australia, and the United States. This year, Bulgaria, Greenland, Guinea (Conakry), Madagascar, Niger, Romania, and Vietnam were added to the survey.

The Policy Potential Index (PPI) is a composite index, measuring the overall policy attractiveness of the 79 jurisdictions in the survey. Since no nation scored first in all categories, the highest score is 90.4 (Alberta). Along with Alberta, the top 10 scorers on the PPI are Nevada, Saskatchewan, Quebec, Finland, Utah, Sweden, Chile, Manitoba and Wyoming.