Macau ranks ninth in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of economic freedom, down two places from last year, according to the 2015 report from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative US think tank based in Washington DC.
Among 42 regional economies, Macau thus ranks only behind Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia.
In global terms, Macau is 34th out of 178 economies, down from 29th last year.
Macau received 70.3 out of a possible 100 points, and is classed as “relatively free”, as it has been for the past seven years.
According to the Macau Monetary Authority, which revealed the findings, 10 indicators are used to assess economic freedom, with the territory doing well in terms of government spending, trade, investment, monetary policy and finance.
The respect of the right to property in the legal system is also highlighted, as well as measures to step up the fight against money laundering, as well as low tax rates.
(macaunews/macaubusinessdaily)
