Why Does Economic Freedom Matter?

On August 13, AF-Columbus hosted Professor Robert Lawson, co-author of the widely-cited Economic Freedom of the World index and the Jerome M. Fullinwider Endowed Centennial Chair in Economic Freedom at the O’Neil Center for Global Markets and Freedom at Southern Methodist University, for an intimate round-table discussion on economic freedom.

Lawson discussed how the United States has fallen from its peak ranking of two on the index to 18 most recently, and contemplated whether standards of living in the U.S. would fall with it. Lawson’s talk was followed by a spirited question and answer session and a discussion among attendees about the future of economic freedom in the United States.