Economic Freedom: Mauritius Ranked 1st in Sub-Saharan Africa

The 2012 Index of Economic Freedom, published annually by The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation, ranks Mauritius first out of 46 countries in the Sub-Saharan African region, with an overall score of 77 which is well above the world average. For Mauritius, it is the first time in the top 10 and the first time ever that a Sub-Saharan African country has been so highly rated. Botswana and Rwanda take the 2nd and 3rd place respectively.

With a score of 77.0, Mauritius is ranked as the 8th freest in the world in the 2012 ahead of Ireland (9th), the United States (10th), the United Kingdom (14th), Japan (22nd), Germany (26th) and France (67th). Improvements were observed in property rights, monetary freedom, and the management of government spending, says the Index of Economic Freedom.

According to the report, Government’s continued commitment to structural reforms and policies that promote integration into the global marketplace has positioned the island economy as a world leader in economic freedom. On this score, Mauritius becomes the first Sub-Saharan African country ever to advance into the top 10 in the rankings.

The Index further shows that the Mauritian economy’s impressive progress hinges on a sound and transparent legal framework that strongly upholds the rule of law. The competitive tax regime and an efficient regulatory environment have encouraged broad-based and diversified economic development. It is also reported that open-market policies that support dynamic trade and investment have bolstered productivity and competitiveness. Following the adoption of policies that encourage flexibility and empower individuals, Mauritius has achieved economic prosperity, says the report.

In terms of enforcement of laws regarding intellectual property rights, Mauritius obtains a score of 65.0. As per the report, the judiciary is independent, and trials are fair and the legal system is generally non-discriminatory and transparent. Mauritius is also viewed as one of Africa’s least corrupt countries.