Last year, the U.S. was ranked 17th, but a steady decline of economic freedom and “rule of law” has dropped the level of freedom, according to the Cato Institute, Fraser Institute and the Swiss Liberales Institut, which created the study together.
Also, the increased use of eminent domain is factored in as a violation of property rights.
The other indicators used to make the list were security and safety, movement, religion, association, assembly and civil society, expression, relationships, size of government, legal system and property rights, access to sound money, freedom to trade internationally, regulation of credit, labor and business.
Based on those measures, here are the top 25 countries.
1. Hong Kong
2. Switzerland
3. Finland
4. Denmark
5. New Zealand
6. Canada
7. Australia
8. Ireland
9. United Kingdom
10. Sweden
11. Norway
12. Austria
12. Germany
14. Iceland
14. Netherlands
16. Malta
17. Luxembourg
18. Chile
19. Mauritius
And then finally..
20. United States
Just after the U.S.,
21. Czech Republic
22. Estonia
22. Belgium
24. Taiwan
25. Portugal
How can the UK be ahead of us?
How many of these have the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in their Constitution? I do not know.