Economic Freedom Underpins Human Rights and Democratic Governance

[kelvin070]

Economic freedom is a part of human liberty that is concerned with the material autonomy of the individual in relation to the government and other organized groups. As Friedrich Hayek once observed, "To be controlled in our economic pursuits means to be controlled in everything."[2] Hayek's observation on economic freedom is based on the truth that each person is a free and responsible being with an inalienable dignity and fundamental human rights that should come first in any political system.

Economic Freedom Underpins Human Rights and Democratic Governance

2010 INDEX of ECONOMIC FREEDOM - Top 10 of 2010
Top ten countries in trade, business, fiscal, monetary, financial, labor, investment and other freedoms

THE financial crisis has done little to damage Singapore's standing as a free economy.
It maintained its rank as the world's second freest economy behind long-time rival Hong Kong, which retained the top spot for the 16th straight year.
But the United States dropped from 6th to 8th place as it introduced more interventionist policies, according to The Index of Economic Freedom, published by The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation, an conservative American think-tank.
2nd freest economy

 

[Accountable]

Wow! Whodathunkit? :clap Congrats.

Weird how you have economic freedom but little else, though.

 

[Accountable]

I hope the table comes out okay. I followed one of the links down and dug a bit. I found the top ten with categorical breakdown. It ain't pretty for the "Land of the Free"

Top ten countries in trade, business, fiscal, monetary, financial, labor, investment and other freedoms

World Rank Country Year Overall Score Change from Previous Business Freedom Trade Freedom Fiscal Freedom Government Size Monetary Freedom Investment Freedom Financial Freedom Property Rights Freedom From Corruption Labor Freedom 1 Hong Kong 2010 89.7 -0.3 98.7 90 93 93.7 83.1 90 90 90 81 87.4 2 Singapore 2010 86.1 -1 98.2 90 90.7 95.3 80.9 75 50 90 92 98.9 3 Australia 2010 82.6 0 90.3 85.1 61.4 64.9 82.7 80 90 90 87 94.9 4 New Zealand 2010 82.1 0.1 99.9 86 63.6 51.3 83.1 80 80 95 93 88.8 5 Ireland 2010 81.3 -0.9 92.8 87.5 71.1 61.8 79 95 80 90 77 79 6 Switzerland 2010 81.1 1.7 81.2 90 68.2 68.9 81.3 80 80 90 90 81.8 7 Canada 2010 80.4 -0.1 96.5 88.1 76.7 54.1 75.4 75 80 90 87 81.5 8 United States 2010 78 -2.7 91.3 86.9 67.5 58 78.1 75 70 85 73 94.8 9 Denmark 2010 77.9 -1.7 97.9 87.5 35.9 22 79.3 90 90 90 93 93.7 10 Chile 2010 77.2 -1.1 64.8 88 77.5 89.6 73 80 70 85 69 75.4

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It shows how far we've let the socialists drag us from our principles.

If you go to the original link, you can sort the list by a particular category. The US doesn't make the top 5 in even one of them.

 

[kelvin070]

I hope the table comes out okay. I followed one of the links down and dug a bit. I found the top ten with categorical breakdown. It ain't pretty for the "Land of the Free"

Top ten countries in trade, business, fiscal, monetary, financial, labor, investment and other freedoms

World Rank Country Year Overall Score Change from Previous Business Freedom Trade Freedom Fiscal Freedom Government Size Monetary Freedom Investment Freedom Financial Freedom Property Rights Freedom From Corruption Labor Freedom 1 Hong Kong 2010 89.7 -0.3 98.7 90 93 93.7 83.1 90 90 90 81 87.4 2 Singapore 2010 86.1 -1 98.2 90 90.7 95.3 80.9 75 50 90 92 98.9 3 Australia 2010 82.6 0 90.3 85.1 61.4 64.9 82.7 80 90 90 87 94.9 4 New Zealand 2010 82.1 0.1 99.9 86 63.6 51.3 83.1 80 80 95 93 88.8 5 Ireland 2010 81.3 -0.9 92.8 87.5 71.1 61.8 79 95 80 90 77 79 6 Switzerland 2010 81.1 1.7 81.2 90 68.2 68.9 81.3 80 80 90 90 81.8 7 Canada 2010 80.4 -0.1 96.5 88.1 76.7 54.1 75.4 75 80 90 87 81.5 8 United States 2010 78 -2.7 91.3 86.9 67.5 58 78.1 75 70 85 73 94.8 9 Denmark 2010 77.9 -1.7 97.9 87.5 35.9 22 79.3 90 90 90 93 93.7 10 Chile 2010 77.2 -1.1 64.8 88 77.5 89.6 73 80 70 85 69 75.4

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It shows how far we've let the socialists drag us from our principles.

If you go to the original link, you can sort the list by a particular category. The US doesn't make the top 5 in even one of them.

I quoted the link for the table: Top ten countries in trade, business, fiscal, monetary, financial, labor, investment and other freedoms

 

[Meirionnydd]

I hope the table comes out okay. I followed one of the links down and dug a bit. I found the top ten with categorical breakdown. It ain't pretty for the "Land of the Free"

Top ten countries in trade, business, fiscal, monetary, financial, labor, investment and other freedoms

World Rank Country Year Overall Score Change from Previous Business Freedom Trade Freedom Fiscal Freedom Government Size Monetary Freedom Investment Freedom Financial Freedom Property Rights Freedom From Corruption Labor Freedom 1 Hong Kong 2010 89.7 -0.3 98.7 90 93 93.7 83.1 90 90 90 81 87.4 2 Singapore 2010 86.1 -1 98.2 90 90.7 95.3 80.9 75 50 90 92 98.9 3 Australia 2010 82.6 0 90.3 85.1 61.4 64.9 82.7 80 90 90 87 94.9 4 New Zealand 2010 82.1 0.1 99.9 86 63.6 51.3 83.1 80 80 95 93 88.8 5 Ireland 2010 81.3 -0.9 92.8 87.5 71.1 61.8 79 95 80 90 77 79 6 Switzerland 2010 81.1 1.7 81.2 90 68.2 68.9 81.3 80 80 90 90 81.8 7 Canada 2010 80.4 -0.1 96.5 88.1 76.7 54.1 75.4 75 80 90 87 81.5 8 United States 2010 78 -2.7 91.3 86.9 67.5 58 78.1 75 70 85 73 94.8 9 Denmark 2010 77.9 -1.7 97.9 87.5 35.9 22 79.3 90 90 90 93 93.7 10 Chile 2010 77.2 -1.1 64.8 88 77.5 89.6 73 80 70 85 69 75.4

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It shows how far we've let the socialists drag us from our principles.

If you go to the original link, you can sort the list by a particular category. The US doesn't make the top 5 in even one of them.

I looked back at the history of rankings (it started in 1995), and the United States hasn't deviated much from its current ranking, the overall highest ranking achieved was a 4, which was in 1995. In my view, the ranking has been somewhat consistent, with scores fluctuating between 4 and 8.

Index of Economic Freedom historical rankings - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Moreover, I don't consider this to be a indicator on 'economic freedom', but rather, how much a government sticks to free-market and conservative economic principles.

 

[kelvin070]

Wow! Whodathunkit? :clap Congrats.

Weird how you have economic freedom but little else, though.

Each country is different and will always be different. What works well for you may not work for us and vice versa.

 

[Meirionnydd]

Does anyone find it ironic that the title of the article promoting this study is called 'Economic Freedom Underpins Human Rights and Democratic Governance' and yet, the top two countries on the list are considered to be 'hybrid regimes' byThe Economist's democracy index?

Obviously there is more at play here. Correlation does not imply causation.

 

[Accountable]

Each country is different and will always be different. What works well for you may not work for us and vice versa.

Mind if I quote you on that?

 

[Accountable]

I looked back at the history of rankings (it started in 1995), and the United States hasn't deviated much from its current ranking, the overall highest ranking achieved was a 4, which was in 1995. In my view, the ranking has been somewhat consistent, with scores fluctuating between 4 and 8.

Index of Economic Freedom historical rankings - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Moreover, I don't consider this to be a indicator on 'economic freedom', but rather, how much a government sticks to free-market and conservative economic principles.

1) Thanks for the chart assist. 2) 15 years is not very long. I'd love to see a line graph stemming from, say the 1920s.
3) I don't follow your last statement. Doesn't economic freedom depend on free-market and conservative economic principles?

 

[kelvin070]

Mind if I quote you on that?

Feel free pls.

 

[Meirionnydd]

1) Thanks for the chart assist. 2) 15 years is not very long. I'd love to see a line graph stemming from, say the 1920s.
3) I don't follow your last statement. Doesn't economic freedom depend on free-market and conservative economic principles?

Correct, the term 'economic freedom' is used as somewhat of a euphemism to promote conservative economic policy. I'm sure left-wingers would probably take issue with the survey. The inclusion of freedom from want would have been desired for me, as well as a less 'pro-business' view towards labor freedom, which treats the ease of which an employer can lay off an employee as a good thing, something which I fundamentally disagree with.

 

[kelvin070]

Wow! Whodathunkit? :clap Congrats.

Weird how you have economic freedom but little else, though.

The Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010

Switzerland tops the overall ranking in The Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010. The United States falls one place to second position, with weakening in its financial markets and macroeconomic stability. Singapore, Sweden and Denmark round out the top five. European economies continue to prevail in the top 10 with Finland, Germany and the Netherlands following suit. The United Kingdom, while remaining very competitive, has continued its fall from last year, moving down one more place this year to 13th, mainly attributable to continuing weakening of its financial markets.

World Economic Forum - Global Competitiveness Report

 

[Accountable]

The Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010

World Economic Forum - Global Competitiveness Report

In what way does that respond to my congratulatory post? I know I'm sarcastic alot of the time, but that one was sincere.

 

[kelvin070]

Wow! Whodathunkit? :clap Congrats.

Weird how you have economic freedom but little else, though.

In what way does that respond to my congratulatory post? I know I'm sarcastic alot of the time, but that one was sincere.

Its not weird, we have very much more.

 

[Accountable]

Yes? Go on. This is a prime opportunity to turn opinions about Singapore. You've been pretty consistent about admitting you have very little freedom and defending the success of such a policy. Carpe diem, Kelvin. "we have very much more" what?

 

[kelvin070]

Yes? Go on. This is a prime opportunity to turn opinions about Singapore. You've been pretty consistent about admitting you have very little freedom and defending the success of such a policy. Carpe diem, Kelvin. "we have very much more" what?

Freedom is not a barometer of success. While the US is still struggling with recession woes communist China is worried abt overheating the economy. By 2020 China will be the world's largest economy.

 

[Peter Parka]

Freedom is not a barometer of success. While the US is still struggling with recession woes communist China is worried abt overheating the economy. By 2020 China will be the world's largest economy.

I'd rather live in a country in a recession than a country that executes mentally ill people because someone took advantage of them but hey, that's just me.

 

[Accountable]

Freedom is not a barometer of success. While the US is still struggling with recession woes communist China is worried abt overheating the economy. By 2020 China will be the world's largest economy.

This says nothing at all about Singapore. Aren't you proud of your own nation? You're making me skeptical.

 

[kelvin070]

This says nothing at all about Singapore. Aren't you proud of your own nation? You're making me skeptical.

This report sums it all. Singapore is mentioned in the report at least 30 times:
The Global Competitiveness Index Analyzer 2009-2010

 

[Accountable]

Well if other people's opinions of your home's "competitiveness" is all you've got, I guess it'll have to do. I was kinda hoping to get a more personal view. What's your opinion, Kelvin? You said "we have much more"