Bad news for NZ's economic freedom

The various Economic Freedom Indices are a pretty blunt instrument to my mind -- for some reason they still measure New Zealand, for instance, as a perfect one for property rights, despite the many well-documented abuses inflicted upon NZ's property owners by government's both central and local. However, like all such things, while the precise figures are questionable the trend across several years is important.

The trend for New Zealand's economic freedom is down.

In the latest 2006 Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom, Godzone has slipped from the top three just a few short years ago, to its latest possie only just inside the top ten. The trend is down, and we're going down quickly -- we're seeing decreasing freedom here at home, even as many other countries including many former communist-controlled basket-cases find the freedom mojo. Libz leader Bernard Darnton blames Helen and her minions:

"New Zealand has slipped from fifth to ninth on the index and this government seems determined to push us lower," says Darnton. "Helen Clark has mused aloud about what a great example Sweden is. Sweden places 19th on the index—the very bottom of the 'free' category. Presumably we can expect our decline to continue under her guidance."

"Unsurprisingly," notes Darnton, "by far New Zealand's worst performing area is 'Fiscal Burden of Government', i.e. the amount of money the government steals in taxes from its productive citizens. We rank 101st along with economic heavyweights Swaziland, Ghana, and Vietnam."

Not good news to return to, then.

Linked Articles: 2006 Index of Economic Freedom
Report Confirms Libz View - Labour Choking Economic Freedom in NZ