Spain is the 31st freest economy

The Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal have just issued a joint paper on economic opportunity and prosperity across the world. It ranks countries according to the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom based on criteria such as Business Freedom, Trade Freedom, Government Spending, Property Rights, Freedom from Corruption, Labor Freedom…

The full list of the ranking can be viewed here. The freest economies are Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia. Interestingly the USA rank 9th, UK – 16th, Germany – 23rd, Spain – 31st, France – 64th, Russia – 143rd.

Here is the summary for Spain:
Spain’s economic freedom score is 70.2, making its economy the 31st freest in the 2011 Index. Its score is 0.6 point higher than last year, reflecting improvements in half of the 10 economic freedoms that offset a decline in freedom from corruption. Spain is ranked 17th out of 43 countries in the Europe region, and its overall score is well above the world average.

Spain’s economy performs well in business freedom, trade freedom, and investment freedom. Business formation procedures have become streamlined, and the overall entrepreneurial environment supports private-sector development. Steps taken in 2010 to reform the labor market make it less costly to dismiss a permanent worker and give employers more control of employee organization.

Challenges include fiscal freedom, government spending, and labor freedom. Total government spending is over 40 percent of GDP. Wage growth has outpaced that in other European countries, and home ownership has been heavily subsidized. Recent large fiscal deficits and rising public debt necessitate sound public financial management and a return to a sustainable level of public spending.

The most peaceful decade since 1840

Financial crisis – uncertain future for our children – Irak – Afghanistan – immigration – global warming – religious fundamentalism – the Mayan calendar… It seems the world is going nowhere but down!

I have never been a nostalgic of bygone times, with the semblance of tranquility they bring through fading or misconstrued memories. So I was particularly pleased to read an article in Rue89, a French newspaper, about violence in history. And it appears that we just lived through the least violent decade since 1840! When you consider how much more populated the world is nowadays, it is an even more significant achievement.

So how is it possible that with 9/11, Irak, Afghanistan, the middle East, Congo… this was such a peaceful decade? Because it was much worse before!

During 2001-2010, there have been less than 1 million deaths from violent conflicts. Compare this with more than 2 millions deaths in all previous decades:
1990′s: Tchetchenie, Rwanda, Yougoslavia
1980′s: Ethiopia, Irak/Iran
1970′s: Vietnam, Cambodge, Angola, Bangladesh
1960′s: China/Inde, Vietnam, Indonesia, Congo, Biafra, Cultural revolution in China
1950′s: Corea, Indochina, Algeria, China’s “jump forward”
Before that we had the second (50 millions deaths) and the first (10 millions) world wars, the Soviet revolution and its excesses, the separation of India and Pakistan…

Apparently we must go back to the period 1815-1845 after the Napoleonic wars (1 millions deaths) to see a similar relatively peaceful period…

So remember these facts next time that you are down and have the urge to glorify the past. Don’t fear the future and embrace your time on earth!

Millennium vs Wikileaks

- Action starts in Sweden
- An obscure publishing company unveils secrets threatening the basis of democracy and the trust in the institutions
- Internet and new technologies play a central role
- Main characters are accused by the government of sexual deviance and alleged murders
- International search warrants are issued
- Despite mustering all governmental forces, the main character is not to be found.
- When arrested, character manages to get access to Internet.
- A loose network of hackers get involved.
- Secret services and official mis-information are central to the plot
- The established press talks a lot about it, but does little to really establish the truth
- Individuals and companies assisting the publisher are under surveillance and pressured not to help
- The story is captivating

And finally, justice prevails and democracy is saved???