THE Bahamas ranks 54th out of 159 countries and territories included in the Economic Freedom of the World: 2017 Annual Report, released today by The Nassau Institute in conjunction with Canada’s Fraser Institute.
Last year – (2015) – The Bahamas also ranked 54th.
Hong Kong and Singapore again top the index, continuing their streak as 1st and 2nd respectively. New Zealand, Switzerland, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Mauritius, Georgia, Australia and Estonia round out the top 10.
“Where people are free to pursue their own opportunities and make their own choices, they lead more prosperous, happier and healthier lives,” said Fred McMahon, Dr. Michael A. Walker Research Chair in Economic Freedom with the Fraser Institute.
The Fraser Institute produces the annual Economic Freedom of the World report in cooperation with the Economic Freedom Network, a group of independent research and educational institutes in nearly 100 nations and territories. It’s the world’s premier measurement of economic freedom, measuring and ranking countries in five areas: size of government, legal structure and security of property rights, access to sound money, freedom to trade internationally, and regulation of credit, labour and business.
On a scale of one to ten, with higher values indicating a higher level of economic freedom, The Bahamas' scores in key components of economic freedom include: size of government, increased to 8.10 from 7.97; legal system and property rights, dropped to 6.49 from 6.80; access to sound money, increased to 6.89 from 6.84; freedom to trade internationally, dropped to 6.71 from 6.72; and regulation of credit, labour and business remained unchanged at 8.62.
The 2017 report was prepared by James Gwartney, Florida State University; Robert A. Lawson, Southern Methodist University; and Joshua Hall, West Virginia University.
It’s based on data from 2015 (the most recent year of available comparable data) and measures the economic freedom (levels of personal choice, ability to enter markets, security of privately owned property, rule of law, etc.) by analysing the policies and institutions of 159 countries and territories.
This year, for the first time, the ranking is adjusted for gender equality. In countries where women are not legally accorded the same level of economic freedom as men, that country receives a lower score.
“The link between economic freedom for all citizens and the prosperity they enjoy is undeniable, while the lowest-ranked countries are usually burdened by oppressive regimes that limit freedom and opportunity,” McMahon said.
The 10 lowest-ranked countries are: Iran, Chad, Myanmar, Syria, Libya, Argentina, Algeria, the Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic and Venezuela. Some despotic countries such as North Korea and Cuba can’t be ranked due to lack of data.
Other notable rankings include the United States and Canada, which tied at 11th, Germany (23), Japan (39), France (52), India (95), Russia (100), China (112) and Brazil (137).
According to research in top peer-reviewed academic journals, people living in countries with high levels of economic freedom enjoy greater prosperity, more political and civil liberties, and longer lives.
For example, countries in the top quartile of economic freedom had an average per-capita GDP of US$42,463 in 2015 compared to US$6,036 for bottom quartile nations.
Moreover, the average income in 2015 of the poorest 10 per cent in the most economically free countries (US$11,998) was almost twice the overall average per capita income in the least free countries. And life expectancy is 80.7 years in the top quartile of countries compared to 64.4 years in the bottom quartile.
Comments
Porcupine 7 years ago
More misleading and useless data. Most every nation on earth is experiencing a dramatic increase in the disparity between the haves and the have nots. The rich, through numerous ways are gaming the system, are further unleveling the playing field to suit their favor. We see it here on a daily basis. Do we not? It is the same on the global stage, as well. They just have a few more means at their disposal than we. The only truth in today's economic headlines are the date and time. All other information, daae and pronouncements are total bullshit. The smartest of the politicians and economists are the most dangerous. Again, we see it here. The brightest are sent off and educated by the elites. They come home and take up the high powered financial positions in the country. Where has this gotten us? They dress nicely, and only comment when it serves their purposes. Otherwise, they act with impunity and without democratic input. But, they are Bahamians. And boy are we getting a royal screwing from them.
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