Every year the Heritage Foundation evaluates all the world’s countries using their Index of Economic Freedom, where a high score correlates to nearly every positive measure of a country.
Eastern European countries have been struggling out of the darkness of communist rule into the light of free markets.
Free markets thrive when a country guarantees property rights and the rule of law. China possesses neither of these.
“The fence itself grazed through the field.”
Russia never really tried free markets. Rated at just below 50% free, Russia is considered repressed.
One area where Brazil has excelled is making headway toward energy independence.
You can both diversify for safety and boost your returns by adding international investments to your portfolio.
Countries must allow all of their populations to participate as fully as possible.
On average, international stocks appreciate more than US stocks. What’s more, companies located in countries with the most economic freedom typically appreciate more than the broader international average.
On average, international stocks appreciate more than US stocks, and stocks in countries with the most economic freedom appreciate more than the international average.
Canada is the one major country that is not included in the EAFE (Europe, Australia, and Far East) foreign index. Not only are they good neighbors but a good investment.