Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Mauritius: 12th freest economy in the world , 1st in Africa

Mauritius’s economic freedom score is 76.3, making its economy the 12th freest in the 2010 Index. Its overall score is 2 points better than last year, reflecting major improvements in freedom from corruption and labour freedom.

Mauritius is ranked 1st out of 46 countries in the Sub-Saharan African region, and its overall score is well above the world average.

These are the conclusions of the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal in the 2010 Index of Economic Freedom.

The report says that despite the global economic turmoil, Mauritius’s economy has shown a considerable degree of resilience, and an environment already conducive to dynamic entrepreneurial activity has moved further toward economic freedom.

"The island’s institutional advantages are noticeable. A transparent and well-defined investment code and legal system have made the foreign investment climate in Mauritius one of the best in the region. Taxation is competitive and efficient. The economy is increasingly diversified, with significant private-sector activity in sugar, tourism, economic processing zones, and financial services, particularly in offshore enterprises" indicates the report.

Although state monopolies exist, Mauritius has improved its management of public spending. The judiciary, independent of politics and relatively free of corruption, provides strong protection of property rights.

Ten Economic Freedoms of Mauritius
82.2 Business Freedom – Avg 64.6
85.0 Investment Freedom – Avg 49.0
85.6 Trade Freedom – Avg. 74.2
70.0 Financial Freedom – Avg 48.5
92.5 Fiscal Freedom – Avg. 75.4
60.0 Property Rights – Avg 43.8
83.4 Government Spending – Avg. 65.0
55.0 Fdm. from Corruption – Avg 40.5
71.2 Monetary Freedom – Avg. 70.6
78.5 Labor Freedom – Avg 62.1

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