Posted on 10/31/2015 1:49:49 AM PDT by elhombrelibre
A mere quarter of a century ago Estonia was a very poor backwater on the Baltic Sea that was still under domination of the Soviet Union. But the country’s story is one of remarkable—and improbable—success.
Estonia has been the most successful of the former communist-controlled countries. It is arguably the most advanced country in the world when it comes to use of the Internet and related technologies.
Modern Estonians enjoy the rule of law, the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio in the EU, a balanced budget, free trade, and a flat-rate income tax — all of which have led to their high economic growth and prosperity.
Estonia ranks number 22 out of 152 countries on the Human Freedom Index, number 8 out of 186 economies on the Index of Economic Freedom, and ranked in first place in the Freedom in the World report.
Read more:
http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/why-estonia-country-future
4L8R
He passed away about ten years ago. One of his life's highlights was returning to Estonia to visit in 2003. He would wake up from sleep in panic attacks and sweats that were horrible. His entire family was lined up in front of their estate barn and shot by the communists. He was hiding nearby in a pile of brush at his parents instruction.
Paul Krugman is very upset.
He predicts higher GDP and higher standard of living in Belarus. /sarc
May he RIP. Thanks for sharing his story.
Great article. Thanks for posting. My ultra-lib daughter visited Lithuania and Latvia about ten years ago while studying in Sweden. She had been visiting the ancestral home in Danzig. I sent the full Cato article her — maybe she can put two and two together to see what happens when people are free of the shackles of government corruption and tyranny.
The 33 year old Prime Minister story is amazing. The only economics book he had read was Friedman’s “Free to Choose.” He thought “that makes sense” and executed that plan. Wow.
Talinn is Fabulous!
I found out yesterday that Poland has no left wing parties. Hmmm...and I wonder why.
Hown long before the Muzzies get there and ruin it all?
One third of Estonia’s population is Russian. They will want their freedom. And the Russians are going to send in their little green men to eastern Estonia where most of them live.
54. It is the duty of each citizen of Estonia to be loyal to the constitutional order and to defend the independence of Estonia.
In the absence of other means of opposing a forcible attempt to change the constitutional order of Estonia, every citizen of Estonia has the right to resist such an attempt of his or her own initiative.
Loved that city this summer.And these are the people of the Singing Revolution.Loved Estonia,it was an honor to be there.
The EU has established quotas for each member state on the intake of Muslim "refugees" so it's doubtful Estonia can avoid them.
bump
Too bad that book is a mystery to so many around here....
The cruelty that the communists inflicted on the people of Eastern Europe has still not been understood by many people outside of that area. Surprisingly, some even advocate a return to tyranny and the Russian Empire as some how a step forward. Chocking freedom is not the answer. Your Uncle would be proud of how Estonia looks and operates today.
You’re welcome.
Friedman’s book was enough. And you know once you figure out that leaving people alone is often the best way to have a humane and just society you don’t have to study all the economic theories. When you learn that the greatest good comes when we allow people to earn, acquire, save, invest, develop, sell, and take business risks and that that benefits others in even unintended ways, you don’t have to study all the arcane and esoteric economic dogma. I wish those who admire Putin would understand that he’s prevented this from type of freedom in Russia.
I know. I’ve been there. You can still see the influence of the Hanseatic League in the German style architecture, eat Georgian restaurants, and walk along the great medieval walls.
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