Chile continues to lead Latin America in 2013 in both economic growth and economic freedom. These positive outcomes reflect well on the solid policy choices being implemented by the Chilean government of President Sebastián Piñera. Making it onto the 2013 Index of Economic Freedom’s list of top 10 freest countries …
What would the potential impact on the economy be if Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—the housing finance government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs)—were eliminated? Our research indicates that winding down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from the mortgage market would have a minimal and predictable effect on the economy. Since 2008, Fannie Mae …
India’s consumers might have been jealous of King Midas’s touch. The country’s historical affinity for gold has reached new extremes thanks to a weak economy, a falling rupee, and poor financial alternatives. In the past year, India’s economy has been beleaguered by poor performance. Corruption, a lack of competitiveness, and …
French President Francois Hollande and his marketing gurus are on the offensive with their “Say Oui to France” campaign, meant to convince investors that the French economy is worthy of their money. Among the selling points: France’s large population; thriving nuclear, aerospace, and chemical sectors; and good location. According to …
Late last year, while conservatives were still coming to terms with the re-election of President Obama, something remarkable happened in Michigan. A state that is synonymous with Big Labor enacted a right-to-work law. Governor Rick Snyder (R-MI) and Republican lawmakers had just witnessed the overwhelming rejection of a union-backed measure …
According to the 2013 Index of Economic Freedom, just released by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal, a significant realignment of European countries is underway. Eight countries recorded their highest economic freedom scores ever in the 2013 Index, while five others have scores equal to or below their …
China’s 2012 official economic numbers are due out at the end of this week and I, among others, will gently suggest that they aren’t particularly accurate. Sometimes, however, it isn’t Beijing that can’t get basic economic facts right. Sometimes it’s us. A lot of foreigners believe China is contributing a …
The latest trade deficit figures are out, and like always, most reporters fail to accurately explain what these numbers mean. During the past 10 years, there has been a clear relationship between trade deficits and U.S. economic growth. Most news coverage got the relationship backwards. Consider the following reports: “The …
You may be wondering whether anyone, after all, went over the fiscal cliff at the end of December. News reports about Congress’s last-second legislation certainly conveyed the impression that everyone stepped away from that fateful edge. However, if you are under the age of 35, that rushing sound you hear …
Africa’s progress in Heritage’s 2013 Index of Economic Freedom remains stagnant. Though making progress last year, with an average score gain of 0.2 points, the continent declined by 0.1 points in 2013. Over the past few years, scores of Western nations have seen their ratings plummet (including the United States). …
