Ranking Economic Freedom with The Heritage Foundation's James Roberts

"Economic Freedom peaked about seven or eight years ago in the U.S. and has been dropping since then," claims James Roberts, Heritage Foundation Research Fellow and co-author of the 2012 Index of Economic Freedom.

For over a decade the Heritage Foundation has been ranking countries based on a number of indices, including open markets, regulatory efficiency, and the size and scope of government. Due primarily to costly regulations and rapid government expansion, the tenth-place United States' declined in the rankings for the fourth straight year, behind Hong Kong (#1), Australia (#3), Switzerland (#5), Canada (#6) and Ireland (#9). Even Maruritius, a small island off the coast of Africa, was seen as a more economically free.

Roberts sat down with Reason's Matt Welch to discuss the Index, the state of free enterprise in the world, and the decline of economic freedom in Europe and North America.

About 6:30 minutes. Shot by Meredith Bragg and Joshua Swain and edited by Bragg.

Visit www.reason.tv for downloadable versions, and subscribe to our YouTube Channel to receive notifications when new material goes live.

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[ch1kusoo]

this is a good Index unlike the so called "Happiness" surveys.

the so called "Happiness" surveys should be called "Happiness-in-being-a-freeload­er" surveys. 

[Shonenut213]

Liberals are always saying the US should be more like Canada. I think this is one case where we should be like Canada.

[Raztamoket]

Mauritius FTW!!

[hayden50]

@sunnyboyX89 you make some excellent points dude..the index is pretty bias towards countries with radical wealth redistribution.

[1corpoaratekochwhore]

@TigerbythetailFilms Why don't you read my words instead of being so arrogant. I never questioned the study in my post. I questioned why these right wing economic organizations never shine a spotlight on crony capitalism. Maybe you don't know what that means. Also instead of nitpicking my words why don't you learn American economic policy.There are endless news articles about fortune 500 companies paying very little or no taxes at times. Also nice way to change the subject.

[TigerbythetailFilms]

@1corpoaratekochwhore well no, part of professionalism is being upfront and open. You don't actually have any particular evidence of them being disingenuous, you just don't like their results. Of course Singapore's economic conditions are related, their top marginal tax rate on corporations and individuals is 20%. Their government spending is far less a percentage of GDP. How is the comparison in economic policies "foolish"? You don't even say why, it's a bare assertion fallacy. Learn economics.

[1corpoaratekochwhore]

@TigerbythetailFilms

Those words are mutually exclusive. And what point are you trying to make by bringing up Singapore's economic conditions. I hope you are not comparing it to the US, that would be very foolish.

[sunnyboyX89]

Argentina one of the fasted growing economies in the world is classified as repressed on this list.

Sweden and Denmark, most taxed countries in the world are more free than Indonesia, Bangladesh, Russia, China or South Korea according to this ranking.

Ireland, the most bankrupt nation in the world is more economic free than the US in this ranking.

Cuba on rank 177 is wealthier than Haiti on rank 142.

If you take this list from the imperial HF seriously, i can't take you.

[TigerbythetailFilms]

@1corpoaratekochwhore "I never said they werent professional, dont put words in my mouth, however I do think they are disingenuous." - isn't it unprofessional to be disingenuous? As a person living in Singapore, the top-ranked country in the ranking, I can personally attest to the amazing economic freedom we have here. This is, of course, anecdotal. But 17% of the people here are millionaires, there is no homelessness, the borders are open and there's only about a 2-3% unemployment rate.

[1corpoaratekochwhore]

@TigerbythetailFilms

You dont get my point. If you are going to highlight govt spending that goes to the poor, why not highlight govt spending that goes to the wealthy and politically connected people. I never said they werent professional, dont put words in my mouth, however I do think they are disingenuous.

[TigerbythetailFilms]

@bweazel "Hopefully. Because he sounds like an idiot." He makes it quite clear that he's referring to the history of the survey, which is only back to 1995.

[TigerbythetailFilms]

@assfaceg you do know it's relative freedom, right? For instance, it's not economic freedom when our monetary system is socialized like it is now. And if you want the most economic collapse and high unemployment, perhaps you should rewind to the collapse of the USSR. Maybe go to Cuba? DPRK? The Congo? They're all doing quite well without economic freedom, all we got was this lousy YouTube.