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Social Repression and Variation within the Human Freedom Index

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  • Ryan H. Murphy

    (SMU Cox School of Business)

Abstract

The Human Freedom Index combines the Economic Freedom of the World index with other data measuring different dimensions of negative freedom to create a complete measure of human freedoms. While the properties of Economic Freedom of the World have been studied at length, relatively little has been done to assess the properties of the Human Freedom Index. We use principal component analysis, k-means clustering, and factor analysis to explore the data. Provocatively, the second principal component, the “off-diagonal” cluster, and the unrotated second factor all point to the same regimes the combine some degree of liberalization in markets with social repression. However, rotating the factors provides clarification, with the first rotated factor emphasizing the markets-oriented policies, and the second factor related to social oppression. This second factor appears to be a novel operationalization of institutional quality.

Suggested Citation

  • Ryan H. Murphy, 2025. "Social Repression and Variation within the Human Freedom Index," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 177(3), pages 1193-1212, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:177:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s11205-025-03561-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-025-03561-6
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    JEL classification:

    • P00 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - General - - - General
    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • K38 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Human Rights Law; Gender Law; Animal Rights Law

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