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The Freedom Ranking of the United States Drops

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United States drops in overall freedom ranking, according to reports

Freedom in the United States has dropped, while countries like the United Kingdom and Chile enjoy more freedom compared to the U.S.

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Highlights

By Linky C. (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
8/20/2015 (8 years ago)

Published in U.S.

Keywords: Freedom in the US, United State, US Government

MUNTINLUPA CITY, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - The United States lands at the 20th spot of countries enjoying freedom in the world. The U.S. ranks below Chile and United Kingdom in a new report.

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A year ago, the United States ranked at the 17th spot in the list of countries that enjoy freedom the most. However, a steady decline was observed because of the decrease in the economic freedom and the "rule of law" in the country.

According to the Cato Institute, Fraser Institute and the Swiss Leberales Institute, who worked together for the study, the level of freedom of the U.S. will continue to decrease if the economy of the country, as well as its laws, fail to improve.

Countries that landed in the top 10 include Hong Kong, Switzerland, Finland, Denmark, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Ireland, United Kingdom and Sweden. Even Mauritius went higher than the U.S., landing in the 19th spot.

"Since the year 2000, the U.S. has been on a decline in terms of economic freedom," Vasquez told the DCNF. Ian Vasquez is a co-author of the report and claims the steady growth of the government and increase in regulations of business and labor contributed to the U.S. low rating.

Another reason why the U.S. dropped down in the list was because of the "rule of law" measure. Vasquez told the DCNF that the increased invasion of privacy through the war caused by drugs and war caused from terror have contributed to the decline in freedom. Violation in property rights also brought the U.S. to a lower position on the list.

Security and safety, movement, association, religion, assembly and civil society were the indicators used to compile and access the list. Expression, relationship, size of government, legal system, property rights, access to sound money, freedom to trade internationally, regulations of credit, labor and businesses were also factors.

Czech Republic, Estonia, Belgium, Taiwan and Portugal landed on the 21st to the 25th spot of the list.

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