2012 Index of Economic Freedom Author:Terry Miller, Kim R. Holmes, Edwin J. Feulner Global economic freedom has declined over the past year. The tension between government control and the free market has heightened around the world, particularly in developing countries. Eroding hard-earned gains in economic freedom in years past, the mounting burden of reckless government spending in many cases has overwhelmed gains in economic... more » freedom achieved in other policy areas.« less