The Index of Economic Freedom is an annual report published by The Wall Street Journal and the Heritage Foundation.

The index measures how well countries score on a list of 50 independent variables divided into 10 broad factors of economic freedom. The higher the score on a factor, the greater the level of government interference in the economy and the less economic freedom a country enjoys. These 50 variables are grouped into the following categories:

• Trade policy
• Fiscal burden of government
• Government intervention in the economy
• Monetary policy
• Capital flows and foreign investment
• Banking and finance
• Wages and prices
• Property rights
• Regulation
• Black market

See also: 2003 Index of Economic Freedom

References

• Executive Summary - The 2003 Index of Economic Freedom

External links

• Index of Economic Freedom
• The Wall Street Journal
• Heritage Foundation