I do not understand economics too well, among other things. But the following really iontrigues me:
> Why any of this should matter is clear in an > analysis between freedom and prosperity. > Economically free countries tend to have higher per > capita income than less free countries. For > instance, while Hong Kong's GDP per capita in 2000 > was $24,218, Iran's was $1,649. "Free" countries in > 2000 had an average per capita income of $26,855, > while "mostly free" countries had slightly less than > half that. This demonstrates that while some > liberalization brings rewards -- "mostly unfree" > economies averaged only $3,229 in per capita income > -- the gains from full liberalization are far more > impressive. My question is this: If we give Ajim Premjee a place of residence at say, Nalbari district. The per capita income of Nalbari dist. might shoot up to probably meet or exceed that of a country with a respectable per-capita income. But would it make the lives of people living in Nalbari any better, even after a reasonable trickle down ? cm At 6:52 AM -0800 11/13/02, Utpal Brahma wrote: >> November 12, 2002 >> >> Liberty = Prosperity >> >> By MARY ANASTASIA O'GRADY >> >> In the 2003 Index of Economic Freedom, released >> today by the Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street >> Journal, the big story is Europe. Six of the 10 >> freest economies in the Index are in North America >> or Europe and half of all "free" economies are in >> Europe. European politicians may cling to the >> rhetoric of socialism, but on much of that >> continent, economic liberty is gaining ground. >> >> This year, economic freedom has advanced throughout >> the world; every region has improved. World-wide, 74 >> countries have better scores, 49 have worse scores, >> and 32 have scores that are unchanged. Of the 156 >> countries numerically graded in the Index, 15 are >> classified as "free," 56 as "mostly free," 74 as >> "mostly unfree," and 11 as "repressed." >> See the 2003 Index of Economic Freedom1 >> >> >> In Europe, capital-friendly Luxembourg is the freest >> economy, ranking third in the world. Croatia, >> Slovenia and Iceland made the most dramatic >> improvements. Scandinavia, previously most noted for >> its socialism, has continued a trend toward more >> freedom, with four out of five economies there >> ranked as "free." Competitive tax rates have helped >> Ireland maintain its title as the Celtic tiger and a >> "free" economy. >> >> The most impressive European story, though, may be >> Estonia, which ties for sixth place -- out of 161 >> countries -- with the U.S. and Denmark. In an essay >> in this year's Index, former Prime Minister Mart >> Laar details the country's journey toward freedom, >> highlighting the importance of property rights and >> the rule of law. >> >> Eleven Latin American countries improved their score >> this year, and 10 worsened, making it the >> worst-performing region. Chile dropped out of the >> Top 10 ranking. Hong Kong is the freest economy in >> the world and Asia has four economies in the Top 10. >> But most of the world's repressed economies are also >> in Asia. >> >> Why any of this should matter is clear in an >> analysis between freedom and prosperity. >> Economically free countries tend to have higher per >> capita income than less free countries. For >> instance, while Hong Kong's GDP per capita in 2000 >> was $24,218, Iran's was $1,649. "Free" countries in >> 2000 had an average per capita income of $26,855, >> while "mostly free" countries had slightly less than >> half that. This demonstrates that while some >> liberalization brings rewards -- "mostly unfree" >> economies averaged only $3,229 in per capita income >> -- the gains from full liberalization are far more >> impressive. >> >> Ms. O'Grady, who edits the Journal's "Americas" >> column, is the co-editor, with Gerald P. O'Driscoll >> Jr. and Edwin J. Feulner, of the 2003 Index of >> Economic Freedom. >> >> INDEX OF ECONOMIC FREEDOM >> The 2003 Rankings >> >> >> >> >> >> FREE >> 1 >> Hong Kong >> 2 >> Singapore >> 3 >> Luxembourg >> New Zealand >> 5 >> Ireland >> 6 >> Denmark >> Estonia >> United States >> 9 >> Australia >> United Kingdom >> 11 >> Finland >> Iceland >> Netherlands >> Sweden >> 15 >> Switzerland >> MOSTLY FREE >> 16 >> Bahrain >> Chile >> 18 >> Canada >> 19 >> Austria >> Belgium >> Germany >> 22 >> Bahamas >> Cyprus >> 24 >> Barbados >> United Arab Emirates >> 26 >> El Salvador >> 27 >> Norway >> Taiwan >> 29 >> Italy >> Lithuania >> Spain >> 32 >> Portugal >> 33 >> Israel >> Latvia >> 35 >> Botswana >> Cambodia >> Czech Republic >> Japan >> Uruguay >> 40 >> France >> Kuwait >> Thailand >> 43 >> Trinidad and Tobago >> 44 >> Armenia >> Bolivia >> Costa Rica >> Hungary >> Madagascar >> Panama >> Qatar >> South Africa >> 52 >> South Korea >> Malta >> Namibia >> 55 >> Belize >> 56 >> Greece >> Guatemala >> Jamaica >> Mexico >> Oman >> Peru >> 62 >> Jordan >> Philippines >> Slovenia >> Uganda >> 66 >> Poland >> Slovak Republic >> 68 >> Argentina >> Morocco >> Saudi Arabia >> Tunisia >> MOSTLY UNFREE >> 72 >> Brazil >> Colombia >> Malaysia >> Mali >> Mauritius >> Mongolia >> Nicaragua >> Swaziland >> 80 >> Central African Republic >> Honduras >> Ivory Coast >> Senegal >> Sri Lanka >> 85 >> Dominican Republic >> Guinea >> Kenya >> Mauritania >> 89 >> Cape Verde >> Croatia >> Gabon >> 92 >> Guyana >> Moldova >> 94 >> Algeria >> Burkina Faso >> Lebanon >> Macedonia >> Mozambique >> 99 >> Djibouti >> Gambia >> Indonesia >> Pakistan >> Paraguay >> 104 >> Albania >> Azerbaijan >> Benin >> Bulgaria >> Cameroon >> Egypt >> Kyrgyz Republic >> Lesotho >> Tanzania >> 113 >> Chad >> Fiji >> Georgia >> Ghana >> Niger >> 118 >> Ecuador >> 119 >> Bangladesh >> Ethiopia >> India >> Kazakhstan >> Nepal >> Turkey >> Venezuela >> Zambia >> 127 >> China >> 128 >> Equatorial Guinea >> Haiti >> Togo >> 131 >> Malawi >> Rwanda >> Ukraine >> Yemen >> 135 >> Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) >> Russia >> Vietnam >> 138 >> Romania >> 139 >> Bosnia >> 140 >> Nigeria >> Sierra Leone >> 142 >> Guinea-Bissau >> 143 >> Suriname >> Syria >> Tajikistan >> REPRESSED >> 146 >> Iran >> Turkmenistan >> 148 >> Burma >> 149 >> Uzbekistna >> Yugoslavia >> 151 >> Belarus >> Libya >> 153 >> Laos >> Zimbabwe >> 155 >> Cuba >> 156 >> North Korea >> >> >> >> >> >> Copyright 2002 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights >> Reserved >> >> Printing, distribution, and use of this material is >> governed by your Subscription agreement and >> Copyright laws. >> >> For information about subscribing go to >> http://www.wsj.com >> >> >> >> >> --------------------------------- >> Do you Yahoo!? >> U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive medley & videos from >> Greatest Hits CD > > >__________________________________________________ >Do you Yahoo!? >U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive greatest hits videos >http://launch.yahoo.com/u2
