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Most Libertarian Country

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Individualist Posted: Tue, Feb 17 2009 8:14 PM

What is the most libertarian country on earth? What is the most libertarian country on earth that is politically stable and not subject to extreme shifts in policy?

"Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under."  - H. L. Mencken

 

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Liechtenstein.  A Catholic monarchy with low taxes and not much economic interventionism. Has no conscription, unlike Switzerland, because they have no military.

Semper Fidelis

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pairunoyd replied on Tue, Feb 17 2009 9:05 PM

some info from cia.gov

 

Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and the highest per capita income in the world. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe. In 2008 Liechtenstein came under renewed international pressure - particularly from Germany - to improve transparency in its banking and tax systems.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$4.16 billion (2007)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
$4.993 billion (2007)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
3.1% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$118,000 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
agriculture: 8%
industry: 39%
services: 54% (2007)
Labor force:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
31,000 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (31 December 2006)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 43.5%
services: 55.4% (31 December 2006)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
1.5% (31 December 2007)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million (1998 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
1% (2001)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$NA
Industries:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments
Exports:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$2.47 billion (1996)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products
Imports:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$917.3 million (1996)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
agricultural products, raw materials, energy products, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles
Debt - external:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order Comparison to the rest of the world
$0 (2001)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order
Swiss francs (CHF) per US dollar - 1.0774 (2008 est.), 1.1973 (2007), 1.2539 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435 (2004)

"The best way to bail out the economy is with liberty, not with federal reserve notes." - pairunoyd

"The vision of the Austrian must be greater than the blindness of the sheeple." - pairunoyd

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I don't just mean on economic grounds.

"Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under."  - H. L. Mencken

 

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fakename replied on Tue, Feb 17 2009 10:13 PM

curious, sicsempertyrannis, is Liechtenstein totally free of regulation (except for the monarchy)?  I know that even hong kong has communized land so I am naturally curious to see if there is another place more dignified in respecting the nature of man and reality than that asian island.

Further, is it true that Liechtenstein is in threat of loosing its low taxes due to EU laws?

 

As for the main question, what about new hampshire -I hear that it has pretty much no laws except for a few token PC ones.

 

 

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Individualist:

I don't just mean on economic grounds.

On what specific grounds do you mean then?

"Government is just a group of men and women doing business at the barrel of a gun." — Marc Stevens, No State Project

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Byzantine replied on Tue, Feb 17 2009 11:35 PM

fakename:
As for the main question, what about new hampshire -I hear that it has pretty much no laws except for a few token PC ones.

That is correct.  Ethnically and culturally homogenous polities have very little need for coercive government--everybody pretty much pulls their weight according to the consensual expectations of the society.  Thus New Hampshire, which is whiter than Augusta National, is a pretty free place.

Which is also why it is laughably ironic that NH has such stridently PC laws.  Relocate a bunch of , ahem, diversity there, and see how long those PC laws stay on the books. Or how long it takes all those oh-so-PC New Hampshireans to relocate to Portland.

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ama gi replied on Tue, Feb 17 2009 11:44 PM

Byzantine:
Relocate a bunch of , ahem, diversity there, and see how long those PC laws stay on the books. Or how long it takes all those oh-so-PC New Hampshireans to relocate to Portland.

You never miss a chance, do you, Byzantine?

"As long as there are sovereign nations possessing great power, war is inevitable."

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Byzantine replied on Wed, Feb 18 2009 12:02 AM

Man your smack is so fresh.  Gimme a pound dawg.

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ama gi replied on Wed, Feb 18 2009 12:29 AM

Costa Rica is another tiny state with no army.  It also offers tax breaks for foreign investors.

"As long as there are sovereign nations possessing great power, war is inevitable."

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ama gi replied on Wed, Feb 18 2009 12:36 AM

Don't forget Dominica.  No military, and tax-free status for foreign businesses.

wikipedia:

Dominica offers tax-free status to companies locating from abroad. It is not known how many companies benefit from the tax-free status because of the strict confidentiality the government enforces, although it is known many Internet businesses utilize Dominica for this reason.

"As long as there are sovereign nations possessing great power, war is inevitable."

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Byzantine:

Man your smack is so fresh.  Gimme a pound dawg.

Legitimate business, and you know it.

And don't you embrace the delightful creative manipulation of language?

The difference between libertarianism and socialism is that libertarians will tolerate the existence of a socialist community, but socialists can't tolerate a libertarian community.

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sicsempertyrannis:

Liechtenstein.  A Catholic monarchy with low taxes and not much economic interventionism. Has no conscription, unlike Switzerland, because they have no military.

I'd agree. Furthermore I'd say they have the soundest currency too, the CHF that is.

"You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows"

Bob Dylan

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sirmonty replied on Wed, Feb 18 2009 8:56 AM

I love the CHF.  Mainly because it made me a little bit of money the other day.

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sirmonty:
I love the CHF.  Mainly because it made me a little bit of money the other day.

Do divulge the details, please.

I am becoming a Burkean Whig.

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Black Market:

Individualist:

I don't just mean on economic grounds.

 

On what specific grounds do you mean then?

 

I'd also be concerned with other freedoms, like freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom pf bearing arms, etc.

"Every decent man is ashamed of the government he lives under."  - H. L. Mencken

 

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For example, someone said on here that Ireland, Singapore, and Hong Kong had more economic freedom than America. I'm pretty sure Singapore is not very libertarian, though.

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Individualist:

I'd also be concerned with other freedoms, like freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom pf bearing arms, etc.

The only area I was unable to find any real info on was gun rights. Seems like they are pretty good on civil liberties.  The Roman Catholic Church is the state church, but there is freedom of religion in their constitution so I doubt it amounts to much.

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Individualist:

For example, someone said on here that Ireland, Singapore, and Hong Kong had more economic freedom than America. I'm pretty sure Singapore is not very libertarian, though.

Not to mention all three of those have horrible gun laws.

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Juan replied on Wed, Feb 18 2009 7:27 PM
Individualist:
I'd also be concerned with other freedoms, like freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of bearing arms, etc.
What ? a catholic monarchy is not deeply concerned about upholding those ?
sicsempertyrannis:
The roman catholic church is the state church,
What an amazing example of libertarianism at work, eh ?

February 17 - 1600 - Giordano Bruno is burnt alive by the catholic church.
Aquinas : "much more reason is there for heretics, as soon as they are convicted of heresy, to be not only excommunicated but even put to death."

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