Economic Freedom

Economic Freedom of the World: 2015 Annual Report

— Sep 14, 2015

The Economic Freedom of the World 2015 report uses data from 2013 (the most recent year available) to rank jurisdictions based on their levels of economic freedom (measured in size of government, taxation, regulation, rule of law, etc.).

View our video on Economic Freedom

The Human Freedom Index 2015

— Aug 18, 2015

Human Freedom Index: A Global Measurement of Personal, Civil, and Economic Freedom compares the level of human freedom in 152 countries using 76 indicators in areas that include freedom of speech, religion, individual economic choice, and women’s freedoms. It finds that Canada ranks sixth in the world while the United States ranks 20th.

Economic Freedom, Individual Perceptions of Life Control, and Life Satisfaction

— Jul 28, 2015

Economic Freedom, Individual Perceptions of Life Control, and Life Satisfaction explores the positive relationship between a country’s level of economic freedom and its population’s level of life satisfaction (or happiness). It finds that living in an economically free country actually plays a greater role in one’s life satisfaction than does income, age, employment or even a country’s political system.

Read the Full Report

Determinants of Economic Freedom

— Apr 22, 2015

Determinants of Economic Freedom finds that the ongoing tug-of-war between political parties trying to “buy” votes with policies catering to special interest groups is a key factor that can affect determining a country’s level of economic freedom. This equilibrium can change when external shocks such as wars and revolutions, economic depressions or recessions prompt the public to gravitate to political parties promising change and dramatic new directions. If that results in governments dramatically expanding their role in the economy, economic freedom levels can fall.

Read the Full Report

What America’s Decline in Economic Freedom Means for Entrepreneurship and Prosperity

— Apr 16, 2015

What America’s Decline in Economic Freedom Means for Entrepreneurship and Prosperity is comprised of five essays by noted U.S. economists that connect the dots between entrepreneurship, economic freedom, and economic growth, detailing their interrelated roles in the sluggish economic recovery of the United States.

Economic Principles for Prosperity

— Dec 4, 2014

Popular myths surround many critical issues in Canada and discourage reforms that would benefit Canadians, finds a new book by Robert P. Murphy, Jason Clemens, Milagros Palacios, and Niels Veldhuis. Economic Principles for Prosperity provides readers witha broad foundation for understanding how best to achieve a prosperous society.

Economic Freedom of North America: 2014 Annual Report

— Dec 2, 2014

Alberta has the highest level of economic freedom among all Canadian provinces and U.S. and Mexican states, finds a new study by Dean Stansel, José Torra, and Fred McMahon. This study, Economic Freedom of North America 2014, ranks jurisdictions based on their levels of economic freedom (measured in size of government, taxation, regulation, rule of law, etc.) using data from 2012, the most recent year of available data. It spotlights the 50 U.S. states, 32 Mexican states and 10 Canadian provinces.