Free Nations More Likely to Vote With the U.S.

Conn Carroll / April 07, 2010

In 2008, on average only 26 percent of all non-consensus votes in the U.N. General Assembly coincided with the United States’ votes. However, when the nations are categorized in terms of economic freedom, as measured by the 2010 Index of Economic Freedom, a trend appears – those nations with better freedom scores cast votes that coincide with the U.S. at a higher rate.

This should not be surprising. Economic freedom refers to the ability of individuals to control their own labor and property. In an economically free society, individuals are free to work, produce, consume, and invest in any way they please, with that freedom both protected by the state and unconstrained by the state. The states that score highest on the index understand that there are strong relationships between economic freedom and job creation, per capita income, economic growth rates, human development, the elimination of poverty, and environmental protection. (more…)