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Freedom counts: Cross-country empirical evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Ferreira, João V.
  • Hanaki, Nobuyuki
  • Le Lec, Fabrice
  • Schokkaert, Erik
  • Tarroux, Benoît

Abstract

We investigate whether people attach intrinsic value to freedom and which theoretical rules they implicitly employ to evaluate opportunity sets. To do this, we run a new survey-based study with 4902 participants across 10 different countries. Participants face various comparisons of opportunity sets in a policy-relevant context in a “spectator” position. Our main result is that an overwhelming majority of spectators reveal that they attach intrinsic value to freedom. We also find that a large majority of participants use size-based rules to rank sets in terms of freedom, while there is considerable heterogeneity in the theoretical rules they implicitly employ to rank sets in terms of welfare. These results are strikingly robust across countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Ferreira, João V. & Hanaki, Nobuyuki & Le Lec, Fabrice & Schokkaert, Erik & Tarroux, Benoît, 2025. "Freedom counts: Cross-country empirical evidence," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eecrev:v:176:y:2025:i:c:s0014292125000728
    DOI: 10.1016/j.euroecorev.2025.105022
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Freedom of choice; Welfare; Intrinsic value; Opportunity set; Cross-cultural survey;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being

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