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Hong Kong, Singapore lead world in economic freedom

EFW 2019 BKK

Hong Kong and Singapore are once again the most economically-free jurisdictions in the world—although China’s heavy hand threatens Hong Kong’s top ranking, according to the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of the World 2019 report.

“While Hong Kong remains the most economically-free jurisdiction in the world, interference from China—including the violent crackdown of pro-democracy protests—severely threatens Hong Kong’s rule of law, which helps ensure equal freedom for all, and endangers Hong Kong’s top position,” said Fred McMahon, Dr. Michael A. Walker Research Chair in Economic Freedom with the Fraser Institute.

Rounding out the top 10 are New Zealand, Switzerland, the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Mauritius.

The report measures the economic freedom—the ability of individuals to make their own economic decisions—by analyzing the policies and institutions of 162 countries and territories. These include regulation, freedom to trade internationally, size of government, sound legal system and property rights, and government spending and taxation.

The rankings of other major countries include Japan (17th), Germany (20th), Italy (46th), France (50th), Mexico (76th), India (79th), Russia (85th), China (113th), and Brazil (120th).

People living in countries with high levels of economic freedom enjoy greater prosperity, more political and civil liberties, and longer lives.

EFW 2019 BKK

Countries in the top quartile of economic freedom had an average per capita GDP of US$36,770 in 2017 compared to US$6,140 for bottom quartile countries. Poverty rates in these countries are lower. In the top quartile, 1.8 per cent of the population experienced extreme poverty (US$1.90 a day) compared to 27.2 per cent in the lowest quartile.

Finally, life expectancy is 79.5 years in the top quartile of countries compared to 64.4 years in the bottom quartile.

“Where people are free to pursue their own opportunities and make their own choices, they lead more prosperous, happier and healthier lives,” McMahon said.

The publication, considered the world’s premier measurement of economic freedom, was presented at the Economic Freedom Network (EFN) Conference on October 11-13, 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand. The event was co-organized by Fraser Institute and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, a German liberal foundation that promotes social market economy.

With reports from Fraser Institute

  • Download the Economic Freedom of the World 2019 Report here

EFW 2019 BKK