Mary Anastasia O. Grady Knihy

Twelve of the top 20 freest economies in the world are European. So why were there riots in Paris last year? Simple. France is not one of the top 20, suffering from low labor freedom and high unemployment. For over a decade, The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation, Washington's preeminent think tank, have tracked the march of economic freedom around the world with the influential Index of Economic Freedom. This year, the 2007 Index of Economic Freedom has been redesigned to be accessible to the congressional staffer and the college student, the finance minister and the financial adviser. The Index measures 10 freedoms - from property rights to entrepreneurship - in 157 countries. For the first time, the 2007 edition also analyzes regions to showcase the freest economies in every part of the world. Book jacket.

Each year for 12 years, The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation, Washington's preeminent think tank, have tracked the march of economic freedom around the world with the internationally acclaimed Index.

A practical guide to understanding global economies. Written for the public, students and the media, as well as economists, government officials and finance professional Index of Economic Freedom uncovers the reasons why some economies flourish, while others lag behind.

The annual Index of Economic Freedom is a detailed, country-by-country analysis of the economies of 162 nations. For each country, it includes often hard-to-obtain 2001 data on taxes, foreign investment codes, tariffs, banking regulations, monetary policy and more. The Index ranks economies according to how free they are. A country's score on the annual Index is a measure of its overall economic health and its prospects for growth. Now in its eighth year, the Index of Economic Freedom is an indispensable handbook for anyone who invests or does business abroad. A must for every corporate and university library.