>Gwartney et al say that "economic freedom" and, say, average GDP per >capita, are positively correlated. The general issue remains. A brief >analogy: In my opinion, the assertion that "economic freedom" is positively correlated with average GDP is just another version of that tired, old and long debunked claim that capitalism = democracy. Ever so often, someone resurrects the idea without bothering to look any further than some poorly constructed and arbitrary quantitative indicators. The claim neither merits nor warrants attention. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Carl H.A. Dassbach E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dept. of Social Sciences Phone: (906)487-2115 Michigan Technological University Fax: (906)487-2468 Houghton, MI 49931 USA