The Reservation Economic Freedom Index

The Reservation Economic Freedom Index

Economic freedom is an important factor in driving growth, innovation, and economic mobility, and even in promoting political and civil liberties. Since the 1990s, scholars have created quantitative measures of economic freedom. Results of these measures have been compiled into a number of indices that rank countries and states in an effort to identify trends in economic freedom within individual nations and across the entire world.

In an exploration of the importance of economic freedoms on Indian reservations, the Reservation Economic Freedom Index (REFI) joins this history of ranking countries and states based on economic freedom. Beyond defining the importance of tribal law, constitutions, and codes in measuring economic freedom across reservations, the index discusses the usefulness and practicality of measuring these freedoms in the context of tribal governments.

Having an index of economic freedom is crucial for providing tribes, scholars, and policy makers with a better understanding of the challenges in place on Indian reservations. As tribal governments respond to the problems plaguing many reservations, the REFI provides leaders with the necessary information to develop solutions that promote greater well-being through economic freedom.

CLICK ON THE IMAGES BELOW TO EXPLORE THE RESERVATION ECONOMIC FREEDOM INDEX