04/01/2006 1:56:13 pm
Economic Freedom Increasing Globally. Today, the 2006 edition of the Index of Economic Freedom (Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal) was released. The countries are measured against a list of 50 variables in 10 categories. There is a strong correlation between a high score in the index - or a big improvement of the position - and economic growth.

Last year was very good for economic freedom in the world. Of the 157 countries analysed in the index, economic freedom increased in 99. Europe and North America are on a steady course in the direction of more freedom, but the perhaps most positive piece of news is that no region has seen a stronger development of economic freedom than Sub-Saharan Africa.

In the EU, a whole 18 countries of the 25 members increased their economic freedom in the last year. My own country, Sweden, went in the other direction and decreased the economic freedom. When most other countries improve, we get the poorest score in six years time.

04/01/2006 11:11:08 am
Downing Street From the Inside. The media spinners at 10 Downing Street have produced an "exclusive insight" into the working life of Mr Blair. It is probably positive from a PR perspective to show the hectic role of the PM and the personal sides of Mr Blair. Not least to meet the charm of Mr Cameron, which seems to have caught the public opinion. But it is always interesting to get an insight, though edited, into what top politics today demand. In this short film, one thing that is quite clear is the demand on political leaders to be able to adapt swiftly to sudden events and changed conditions.

Watch the film - >

04/01/2006 10:46:21 am
In the Right Place. Finally, my good friend and former colleague, Fredrik Segerfeldt, is now my colleague again. Today, he started working at Timbro and this is really the right place for him. Of course a well educated and refined person - for example author of "Water for Sale" (Cato Institute). But also jokingly known as "Angry Fredrik" because of his passion for freedom and resentment of oppression and collectivism. And a funny guy. A very welcome strengthening of the good forces indeed!

04/01/2006 10:41:02 am
I SvD: Gärna 100 procents ersättningsnivå. På ledarsidan i dagens Svenska Dagbladet skriver undertecknad om förra årets stora inrikespolitiska debatt om ersättningsnivåer. Min enkla fråga är varför alla partier diskuterar en enda ersättningsnivå, lika för alla. Borde man inte själv få välja nivå och därmed betala den premie som följer på nivån? Då skulle detta inte vara en politisk debatt. Varken Pär Nuder eller Anders Borg skulle bestämma över Svenssons privatekonomi. Än bättre vore om man hade rätt att försäkra sig var man vill, lika väl hos If eller Trygg-Hansa som Försäkringskassan. Valfrihet och konkurrens skulle ge ett bredare utbud till bättre priser.

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