Canada, Chile Now Economically Freer Than U.S.
Washington -- Economic freedom around the world remains on the rise but it has declined notably in the U.S. since the year 2000, according to the Economic Freedom of the World Report: 2008 Annual Report from the Cato Institute and Canada's Fraser Institute.
In 2000 the U.S. was the second-freest economy listed in Economic Freedom of the World, an annual report written by James Gwartney from Florida State University and Robert Lawson from Auburn University. This year the U.S. has fallen to 8th place, behind Hong Kong (ranked in first place), Singapore, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Chile, and Canada.
More significant than the U.S.'s drop in the rankings is its fall in the freedom ratings: on a scale of 0-10, the U.S. fell from 8.55 in 2000 to 8.04. Only five countries have experienced a greater decline over the same time period: Zimbabwe, Argentina, Niger, Venezuela, and Guyana.
"The rule of law, government spending, and regulation are the areas where the United States saw the most troubling declines in its ratings this decade," observes Ian Vasquez, director of Cato's Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity.
MP: These ratings are for the year 2006, the most recent year for which comprehensive data are available (see top 20 most free countries above). What's going to happen to America's Economic Freedom rating when: a) the recent government takeover of Fannie and Freddie, b) the current proposal for a $700 billion bailout of the U.S. financial markets, c) the $85 billion AIG bailout, and d) the $25 billion in loans for the Detroit Three, are all accounted for?
Listen to Cato's Will Wilkinson's comments on NPR about now Canada, even with its socialized medical system, now ranks higher than the U.S. in its degree of overall economic freedom.
7 Comments:
"Canada, even with its socialized medical system,"
That's a big even. Here is a report of a Canadian found dead in an emergency room. He had been there thirty four hours before being noticed.
http://www.winnipegsun.com/News/Winnipeg/2008/09/23/6851396.html
"We will stand free or we will fall. But if we fall it will be by our own hand and a lack of resolve, a reluctance to put aside our fears and prejudices and greed that are used to play us for fools and face the facts, and listen to the truth.
When the banks make us an offer they think that we cannot refuse, we will be at the crossroads and will decide what we wish to be: slaves or free men. Yes, it really is that simple."
Fred, here are three more for you in the U.S. We need to put an end to the carnage in America where 250,000 people die each year from bungled medical treatment.
http://www.perrspectives.com/blog/archives/001135.htm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1849549/posts
The freedom of true democracy never fails to promote true prosperity. Prosperity always tends to promote "economic freedom". Democracy is the equality of all men. Economic freedom is the hierarchical categorization of all men according to means. It is sad that democracy tends to promote anti-democratic tendencies.
Great job, Team Bush.
> He had been there thirty four hours before being noticed.
Oh, yeah, that's the kind of high-quality health care I want brought to the USA!!
Yeaaaaa, BoooooooooYeeee.
> 250,000 people die each year from bungled medical treatment.
That's a ridiculous number, right on the surface. It's ONE in 1200. You're saying it's more dangerous to go to the hospital than it is to drive on the streets. Flat out ludicrous. Get a clue.
> Great job, Team Bush.
Spencer, doesn't having your intestines entirely wrapped around your head interfere with typing?
>"We can't attribute what happened to that patient to emergency staff being busy,"<
This is not a problem with the health care system, but a social problem with Native Americans. In towns like Winnipeg, where there are a lot of down and out natives, you don't really notice when one is sprawled out somewhere. This is a legacy of the foiled assimilation program of the residential schools.
That said, there is doctor shortages across North America, and the Canadian system does nothing to address this, and neither does the American system. Frankly, as is, only fools go into medicine instead of law. The remuneration against the workload and responsibility is ridiculous.
The bar should be much much higher, so that only 30% of students seeking legal occupations would expect to succeed. This would better channel the prudent towards medicine.
Allan Manchester
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