For the 31st year in a row, the Heritage Foundation has published the Index of Economic Freedom, otherwise known as the “capitalism ranking.” Contrary to the assertions of anti-capitalists, this study on the state of economic freedom in 184 countries proves that more economic freedom, not more state regulation or development aid, is the only effective means to alleviate environmental destruction and poverty.

This conclusion is supported by a comparison of the Index of Economic Freedom with other economic indices, such as Yale University’s Environmental Performance Index. Countries classified as “Free and Mostly Free” in the Index of Economic Freedom have an average Environmental Performance Index score of 61.1, significantly higher than the score for countries classified as “Repressed” (40.6).