This report marks the inaugural publication of the Legatum Institute’s Global Index of Economic Openness. It measures the extent to which the economic systems of 157 countries around the world enable trade, competition and productivity, by measuring four pillars that describe the policy choices for countries: Market Access and Infrastructure, Investment Environment, Enterprise Conditions and Governance.
Trade is indispensable to fostering greater levels of global economic development. As the OECD has written, “No country has lifted itself out of poverty without international trade.” This category consolidates GTIPA-member reports assessing the intersection of trade and economic development.