According to the Heritage Foundation, economic freedom is the right everybody should have to control his or her own labor and property. In a society with complete economic freedom people are free to undertake any economic activity, be it working, producing or investing, in any way they choose.
In order to gauge which nations have the greatest level of this freedom, the foundation assesses every country based on a certain set of criteria.
Overall ten measurements of economic freedom are scrutinized by the organization with each country being given a score between zero and 100 for each. By adding these up, each nation is given an overall score for economic freedom.
For the record, the most economically free country in Europe according to the Heritage Foundation is Switzerland. However, we've decided to look at the other end of the scale and list the least economically free.
#20 Slovakia
Rank: 51
Overall Score: 67.0
Business Freedom Score: 71.0
Trade Freedom Score: 87.1
Fiscal Freedom Score: 84.2
Government Spending Score: 48.2
Monetary Freedom Score: 83.5
Investment Freedom Score: 75.0
Financial Freedom Score: 70.0
Property Rights Score: 50.0
Freedom From Corruption Score: 43.0
Labor Freedom Score: 58.1
SOURCE: Heritage Foundation
#19 Latvia
Rank: 56
Overall Score: 65.2
Business Freedom Score: 75.9
Trade Freedom Score: 87.1
Fiscal Freedom Score: 84.3
Government Spending Score: 43.8
Monetary Freedom Score: 79.1
Investment Freedom Score: 80.0
Financial Freedom Score: 50.0
Property Rights Score: 50.0
Freedom From Corruption Score: 43.0
Labor Freedom Score: 59.1
SOURCE: Heritage Foundation
#18 Albania
Rank: 57
Overall Score: 65.1
Business Freedom Score: 78.2
Trade Freedom Score: 79.8
Fiscal Freedom Score: 91.4
Government Spending Score: 69.5
Monetary Freedom Score: 78.6
Investment Freedom Score: 65.0
Financial Freedom Score: 70.0
Property Rights Score: 35.0
Freedom From Corruption Score: 33.0
Labor Freedom Score: 51.0
SOURCE: Heritage Foundation
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