This Tuesday (September 14), the Fraser Institute of Canada (Fraser Institute) published the "World Economic Freedom 2021 Annual Report".
The new report ranks Hong Kong as the freest economy in the world's 165 regions. In fact, since the first report in 1996, Hong Kong has been ranked first (except in 2002).
The Hong Kong government can't wait to press the article to boast and celebrate. The spokesperson said that "this clearly affirms Hong Kong's persistent efforts to build a free economy and provide a fair business environment."
The Fraser Institute’s "World Economic Freedom" Index scores regions in five categories, including "Government Size", "Legal System and Property Rights", "Currency Soundness", "Free International Trade" and "Market Regulation" .
Hong Kong ranks first in the latter two. "Government size" and "Currency soundness" rank 9th and 12th respectively, while "Legal system and property rights" rank the worst, only 20th.
However, the report emphasizes that the current data is adopted until 2019, and it clearly stated that Hong Kong's ranking will be lowered due to recent political and social events in the future.
The Fraser Institute once again ranked Hong Kong as the freest economy in the world.
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Improper freedom is exclusive to capitalists
This criterion of "world economic freedom" has in fact been criticized for a long time.
For example, Jim Stanford, a Canadian economist and director of the Center for Future Work, once criticized the Fraser Institute's report for being at best the "Capitalist Freedom Index", and denounced the existence of a large number of ideological biases from the perspective of the rich. , It is impossible to truly measure the "economic freedom" enjoyed by the general public, and it is proposed to establish a separate index that can calculate the level of employment, income, equality and security of the people.
From another perspective, the Fraser Index can sometimes even reflect the inequality in Hong Kong society.
For example, Hong Kong had the highest overall score for "economic freedom" from 2006 to 2010, reaching 9 points or more out of a perfect score of 10. According to the data released by the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong’s labor income accounted for the period from 2005 to 2008. During the period when the proportion of national income was low, compensation of employees accounted for less than half of the added value of total production. Therefore, Hong Kong’s higher "economic freedom" performance during this period is likely to be based on labor sharing less economy. On the basis of earnings.
The development of society is not only economic
It is particularly ironic that the country just released the fourth issue of the National Human Rights Action Plan less than a week ago. The content clearly stated that the goal is to "promote the free and comprehensive development of all people" and that it requires "full protection of the people's economy, society and culture." Rights, and continue to realize the people’s yearning for a better life.” However, the governors here in Hong Kong choose to continue to embrace a ranking of “world economic freedom” that has no intention of developing freedom for all people. The “integration into the overall situation of the country’s development” clearly lags behind.
The best reflection of the mentality of the Hong Kong governance team is probably a few words from the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, who attended the question time of the Legislative Council earlier this month. In her response to a question from Members on the concept of "common prosperity", she said: "The situation in Hong Kong. As an outward-looking, open, and capitalist society, it is difficult to expect that there will be no gap between the rich and the poor... The government’s behavior is at least the first one is economic development, and it must promote the better development of our economy.” The implication is It is to put economic development above social equality and acquiesce in the continuous expansion of the gap between the rich and the poor in Hong Kong.
The overall development of society cannot only pursue the economy, especially the abnormal capital economy that is fatter and thinner. The understanding of "economic freedom" should not be misinterpreted as a modification of capitalist privileges.
If the Hong Kong government does not get rid of the fascination with the false name of this "freest economy", it will not be possible to truly lead the overall development of the local society, let alone keep up with the country's efforts to build "common prosperity".
Why should Chen Maobo stick to economic freedom ranking the world's freest economy?
The will to govern is the key to the implementation of "Hong Kong people ruling Hong Kong"