Study
| EST. READ TIME 1 MIN.Lack of economic freedom costs individual Canadians thousands of dollars each year
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The index of the Economic Freedom of North America is an attempt to gauge the extent of the restrictions on economic freedom imposed by governments in North America. This study employs two indexes. The first is the subnational index, which measures the impact of provincial and municipal governments in Canada and state and local governments in the United States. The second index, called the all-government index, includes the impact of all levels of government - federal, provincial/state, and municipal/local - in Canada and the United States. All 10 provinces and 50 states are included in both indexes. Economic Freedom of North America employs nine variables in three areas: 1. Size of Government; 2. Takings and Discriminatory Taxation; and 3. Labor Market Freedom.
The study examines the impact of economic freedom on both the level of economic activity and the growth of economic activity. The econometric testing presented in this paper shows that in North America economic freedom fosters prosperity and growth. Economic freedom increases the affluence of individuals. This finding is consistent with other studies of economic freedom.
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Amela Karabegovic
Amela Karabegovi is a former Senior Economist of the Fraser Institute. She holds a B.M. (Great Distinction) in General Managementfrom the University of Lethbridge in Alberta and an M.A. in Economics from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. She was a coauthor of the Economic Freedom of North America , Economic Freedom of the Arab World , Myths and Realities of TILMA , Transparency of Labour Relations Boards in Canada and the United States , Measuring Labour Markets in Canada and the United States , Measuring the Flexibility of Labour Relations Laws in Canada and the United States , Tax and Expenditure Limitations: The Next Step in Fiscal Discipline , and the Prosperity Series-Ontario .… Read more Read Less… -
Fred McMahon
Resident Fellow, Dr. Michael A. Walker Chair in Economic Freedom
Fred McMahon is a Fraser Institute Resident Fellow and holder of the Dr. Michael A. Walker Chair in Economic Freedom.He has an M.A. in Economics from McGill University. Mr. McMahon manages the Economic Freedom of the World Project and coordinates the Economic Freedom Network, an international alliance of over 100 think tank partners in about 100 nations and territories. His research focuses on global issues such as development, trade, governance and economic structure. Mr. McMahon is the author of numerous research articles and several books including, Looking the Gift Horse in the Mouth: The Impact of Federal Transfers on Atlantic Canada, which won the Sir Antony Fisher International Memorial Award for advancing public policy debate, Road to Growth: How Lagging Economies Become Prosperous, and Retreat from Growth: Atlantic Canada and the Negative Sum Economy.He has written for numerous publications including the European Journal of Political Economy, the SAIS Journal (School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University), the Wall Street Journal, Policy Options, National Post, Time (Canada), Globe and Mail, Ottawa Citizen, and most other major Canadian newspapers. Research articles he has recently authored or co-authored include: Economic Freedom of North America, Quebec Prosperity: Taking the Next Step, The Unseen Wall: The Fraser Institute's Annual Trade Survey, and Economic Freedom of the Arab World.… Read more Read Less… -
Dexter Samida
Dexter Samida is a former research economist at The Fraser Institute. He majored in economics at the University of Saskatchewan,from which he received his B.Comm. (high honours) with Great Distinction in 1997. He obtained his M.A. in Economics from the University of Toronto in 1998. In the summer of 1997, he worked as an intern at The Fraser Institute, where did research on taxation in Canada. He has written articles on economic freedom and poverty, and consumerism. Mr Samida is a native of rural Saskatchewan.… Read more Read Less… -
Glenn Mitchell
Glenn Mitchell is a writer, editor and media consultant in Dallas, Texas, who has worked on a number of projectsfor the National Center for Policy Analysis. He is the editor of Notes on Freedom: Individual Liberty vs. Government Tyranny, 18th Century and Today, A study of Cato's Letters (Dallas, TX:NCPA, 2000).… Read more Read Less… -
Chris Schlegel
Chris Schlegel is a former research economist at The Fraser Institute. He is currently working for the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission.
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