The Human Freedom Index 2016

In that spirit, such a way long work of the Fraser Institute to define and the members of the project encourage other measure economic freedom with the Econom- researchers to contribute to the development that justified ic Freedom of the World index.1 The economic of the index by using it to explore the relation- extensive or freedom project has demonstrated the power ships between freedom and oth [...] As in as Canada and the United States have demo- defined by the case of the totalitarian systems of the 20th cratic elections and constitutional constraint century, this allows rulers to ignore the wishes as well as separation of powers and decen- the absence of people and commit torture and other atroc- tralization. [...] The and the Security and Safety categories and rule of law, by providing predictable order and average that rating with the average of the re- reducing arbitrary conduct by the authorities, maining categories to produce a final rating on further facilitates an environment in which the personal freedom index. [...] It should be noted that the Economic Freedom of the Rule of Law World index includes nine variables in the area The rule of law is an essential condition of of “Legal System and Property Rights” that freedom that protects the individual from co- seek to measure “how effectively the protec- ercion by others. [...] John Locke’s emphasis on the tive functions of government are performed.” importance of law in securing and enlarging Thus, the rule of law measures included in the freedom, cited above, is an early formulation personal freedom index add to those in the of that concept.