PHL ranks 71st out of 159 countries in freedom index

By Arjay L. Balinbin

THE Philippines ranks 71st out of 159 countries in the 2017 Human Freedom Index (HFI) by the Fraser Institute.

Based on 2015 data, the 2017 global index on personal and economic freedoms (collectively human freedom) places the Philippines with a human freedom score of 6.97 (in a range of 0-10), with personal freedom at 6.46 and economic freedom, 7.47.

The country ranks 39th in terms of economic freedom, and 104th, personal freedom.

Worldwide, the index shows Switzerland as the freest in the world, replacing Hong Kong, followed by New Zealand, Ireland, Australia, Finland, Norway, and Denmark.

According to Fred McMahon, HFI project editor, “Hong Kong’s fall from the top of the Human Freedom Index this year could indicate China is encroaching on its one-country, two-system relationship and the people of Hong Kong are materially less free because of it.”

Netherlands and United Kingdom are tied for 9th place.

HFI noted that people in freer countries earn more money than those who live in less-free countries, adding: “Countries in the top quartile of freedom enjoy a significantly higher average per capita income ($38,871) than those in other quartiles; the average per capita income in the least-free quartile is $10,346.”

This indicates that “when people are free, they have much greater opportunity to prosper,” Mr. McMahon said.

The 10 least free countries are Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Algeria, Iran, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, Venezuela, and Syria.

The HFI is a joint project of the Fraser Institute, Germany’s Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and the Cato Institute in the U.S.