IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/soinre/v177y2025i3d10.1007_s11205-025-03561-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Social Repression and Variation within the Human Freedom Index

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11205-025-03561-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11205-025-03561-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Knoll, Martin & Zloczysti, Petra, 2012. "The Good Governance Indicators of the Millennium Challenge Account: How Many Dimensions are Really Being Measured?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 900-915.
    2. Andrei Shleifer & Florencio Lopez-de-Silanes & Rafael La Porta, 2008. "The Economic Consequences of Legal Origins," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 46(2), pages 285-332, June.
    3. Rajeev K. Goel & Michael A. Nelson, 2005. "Economic Freedom Versus Political Freedom: Cross‐Country Influences On Corruption," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(2), pages 121-133, June.
    4. John A. Tures, 2003. "Economic Freedom and Conflict Reduction: Evidence from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s," Cato Journal, Cato Journal, Cato Institute, vol. 22(3), pages 533-542, Winter.
    5. Erik SCHOKKAERT & Luc VAN OOTEGEM, 1990. "Sen's Concept of the Living Standard applied to the Belgian Unemployed," Discussion Papers (REL - Recherches Economiques de Louvain) 1990039, Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES).
    6. Jan Ott, 2018. "Measuring Economic Freedom: Better Without Size of Government," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 135(2), pages 479-498, January.
    7. Jan Ott & Fred MacMahon, 2019. "Is Freedom Just About the Absence of Inhibitions, or Also About the Availability of Options?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 142(1), pages 305-309, February.
    8. Vlad Tarko & Ryan Safner, 2022. "International regulatory diversity over 50 years: political entrepreneurship within fiscal constraints," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 193(1), pages 79-108, October.
    9. János Kornai, 2016. "The System Paradigm Revisited. Clarification and Additions in the Light of Experiences in the Post-Socialist Region," Acta Oeconomica, Akadémiai Kiadó, Hungary, vol. 66(4), pages 547-596, December.
    10. Steven B. Caudill & Fernando C. Zanella & Franklin G. Mixon, Jr., 2000. "Is Economic Freedom One Dimensional? A Factor Analysis of Some Common Measures of Economic Freedom," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 25(1), pages 17-40, June.
    11. Indra Soysa & Krishna Vadlammanati, 2013. "Do pro-market economic reforms drive human rights violations? An empirical assessment, 1981–2006," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 163-187, April.
    12. Sobel, Russell S., 2017. "The rise and decline of nations: the dynamic properties of institutional reform 1," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 13(3), pages 549-574, September.
    13. repec:bla:kyklos:v:55:y:2002:i:3:p:403-16 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Karceski, Steven M. & Kiser, Edgar, 2020. "Is there a limit to the size of the state? The scope conditions of Wagner's law," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(2), pages 217-232, April.
    15. Andreas P. Kyriacou, 2025. "Economic inequality, culture, and governance quality," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(1), pages 375-402, February.
    16. Alberto Alesina, 2002. "The Size of Countries: Does it Matter?," Harvard Institute of Economic Research Working Papers 1975, Harvard - Institute of Economic Research.
    17. Russell S. Sobel & Christopher J. Coyne, 2011. "Cointegrating Institutions: The Time-Series Properties of Country Institutional Measures," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 54(1), pages 111-134.
    18. Sean Balliew & Timothy Mathews & Joshua C. Hall, 2020. "Measuring economic freedom: an alternative functional specification and subsequent ranking," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(14), pages 1582-1591, March.
    19. Pryor, Frederic L., 2010. "Capitalism and freedom?," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 91-104, March.
    20. Carden, Art & Lawson, Robert A., 2010. "Human Rights and Economic Liberalization," Business and Politics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, August.
    21. Colin O'Reilly & Ryan H. Murphy, 2022. "An Index Measuring State Capacity, 1789–2018," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 89(355), pages 713-745, July.
    22. Lauren R. Heller & Robert A. Lawson & Ryan H. Murphy & Claudia R. Williamson, 2018. "Is human trafficking the dark side of economic freedom?," Defence and Peace Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(4), pages 355-382, June.
    23. Heckelman, Jac C. & Stroup, Michael D., 2005. "A comparison of aggregation methods for measures of economic freedom," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 21(4), pages 953-966, December.
    24. Ryan H. Murphy, 2022. "On Whether the Size of Government Belongs in Economic Freedom Indices," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 19(1), pages 1-47–57, March.
    25. Carden Art & Lawson Robert A., 2010. "Human Rights and Economic Liberalization," Business and Politics, De Gruyter, vol. 12(2), pages 1-20, August.
    26. Jan–Egbert Sturm & Erik Leertouwer & Jakob de Haan, 2002. "Which Economic Freedoms Contribute to Growth? A Comment," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(3), pages 403-416, August.
    27. José Aixalá & Gema Fabro, 2009. "Economic freedom, civil liberties, political rights and growth: a causality analysis," Spanish Economic Review, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 11(3), pages 165-178, September.
    28. Christian Bjørnskov & Martin Rode, 2020. "Regime types and regime change: A new dataset on democracy, coups, and political institutions," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 531-551, April.
    29. Indra de Soysa & Krishna Chaitanya Vadlamannati, 2011. "Does Being Bound Together Suffocate, or Liberate? The Effects of Economic, Social, and Political Globalization on Human Rights, 1981–2005," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 64(1), pages 20-53, February.
    30. J. Brandon Bolen & Russell S. Sobel, 2020. "Does Balance Among Areas of Institutional Quality Matter for Economic Growth?," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 86(4), pages 1418-1445, April.
    31. repec:bla:kyklos:v:53:y:2000:i:4:p:527-44 is not listed on IDEAS
    32. Martin Rode & Sebastian Coll, 2012. "Economic freedom and growth. Which policies matter the most?," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 95-133, June.
    33. Toby Huskinson & Robert Lawson, 2014. "Clusters of economic freedom," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(15), pages 1070-1074, October.
    34. Ryan H. Murphy, 2022. "Breaking Wagner's Law: Which Countries Have the Most Limited Government?," Public Finance Review, , vol. 50(4), pages 484-509, July.
    35. Kornai, Janos, 1992. "The Socialist System: The Political Economy of Communism," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198287766, Decembrie.
    36. Axel Dreher & Martin Gassebner & Lars-H. R. Siemers, 2012. "Globalization, Economic Freedom, and Human Rights," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 56(3), pages 516-546, June.
    37. Moamen Gouda & Jerg Gutmann, 2021. "Islamic constitutions and religious minorities," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 186(3), pages 243-265, March.
    38. Jerg Gutmann & Stefan Voigt, 2015. "The rule of law and constitutionalism in Muslim countries," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 351-380, March.
    39. de Haan, Jakob & Sturm, Jan-Egbert, 2003. "Does more democracy lead to greater economic freedom? New evidence for developing countries," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 19(3), pages 547-563, September.
    40. Robert A. Lawson & Ryan Murphy & Benjamin Powell, 2020. "The Determinants Of Economic Freedom: A Survey," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 38(4), pages 622-642, October.
    41. Xavier Vanssay & Vincent Hildebrand & Zane Spindler, 2005. "Constitutional Foundations of Economic Freedom: A Time-Series Cross-Section Analysis," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 327-346, December.
    42. Laura Langbein & Stephen Knack, 2010. "The Worldwide Governance Indicators: Six, One, or None?," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 46(2), pages 350-370.
    43. Dawson, John W, 1998. "Institutions, Investment, and Growth: New Cross-Country and Panel Data Evidence," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 36(4), pages 603-619, October.
    44. J. Brandon Bolen & Claudia R. Williamson, 2019. "The Path of Reform: The Consequences of Institutional Volatility," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 72(3), pages 400-425, August.
    45. Ryan H. Murphy, 2019. "The state economic modernity index: an index of state building, state size and scope, and state economic power," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 73-101, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Joshua C. Hall, 2016. "Institutional convergence: exit or voice?," Journal of Economics and Finance, Springer;Academy of Economics and Finance, vol. 40(4), pages 829-840, October.
    2. Peter Calcagno & Beatriz Maldonado & Todd Nesbit & Mary Frances Zeager, 2024. "Political systems, regime memory, and economic freedom," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 42(2), pages 336-354, April.
    3. Justin Callais & Kerianne Lawson, 2024. "Underperforming reformers: Examining disappointing cases of economic reforms," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 77(3), pages 593-615, August.
    4. Ryan H. Murphy, 2022. "On Whether the Size of Government Belongs in Economic Freedom Indices," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 19(1), pages 1-47–57, March.
    5. Alvarez, Sean P. & Geloso, Vincent & Scheck, Macy, 2024. "Revisiting the relationship between economic freedom and development to account for statistical deception by autocratic regimes," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    6. Rode, Martin & Gwartney, James D., 2012. "Does democratization facilitate economic liberalization?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 607-619.
    7. Bjørnskov, Christian, 2015. "Does economic freedom really kill? On the association between ‘Neoliberal’ policies and homicide rates," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 207-219.
    8. Jerg Gutmann & Katarzyna Metelska-Szaniawska & Stefan Voigt, 2024. "The comparative constitutional compliance database," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 95-115, January.
    9. Hatice KÜÇÜKKAYA, 2017. "EUREFE’17 International Conference," Turkish Economic Review, KSP Journals, vol. 4(3), pages 343-344, September.
    10. Vatcharin Sirimaneetham, 2006. "What drives liberal policies in developing countries?," Bristol Economics Discussion Papers 06/587, School of Economics, University of Bristol, UK.
    11. Bjørnskov, Christian, 2024. "Economic freedom and the greenhouse gas Kuznets curve," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    12. Jakob De Haan & Susanna Lundström & Jan‐Egbert Sturm, 2006. "Market‐oriented institutions and policies and economic growth: A critical survey," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(2), pages 157-191, April.
    13. Robert A. Lawson & Ryan Murphy & Benjamin Powell, 2020. "The Determinants Of Economic Freedom: A Survey," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 38(4), pages 622-642, October.
    14. Aslý YENÝPAZARLI, 2017. "Economic freedom and effects on economic growth: A time series analysis for Turkey," Turkish Economic Review, KSP Journals, vol. 4(3), pages 345-351, September.
    15. Joshua Hall & John Levendis & Alexandre R. Scarcioffolo, 2020. "The Efficient Corruption Hypothesis and the Dynamics Between Economic Freedom, Corruption, and National Income," Journal of Developing Areas, Tennessee State University, College of Business, vol. 54(3), pages 161-175, July-Sept.
    16. Andreas Bergh & Christian Bjørnskov, 2021. "Does economic freedom boost growth for everyone?," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 74(2), pages 170-186, May.
    17. repec:jpe:journl:1628 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. James E. Payne & James W. Saunoris & Saban Nazlioglu & Cagin Karul, 2023. "The convergence dynamics of economic freedom across U.S. states," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 89(4), pages 1216-1241, April.
    19. Kapás, Judit & Czeglédi, Pál, 2011. "Gazdasági szabadság, politikai szabadság és a társadalmi rendek [Economic freedom, political freedom, and social orders]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(6), pages 485-510.
    20. Martin Rode & Julio Revuelta, 2015. "The Wild Bunch! An empirical note on populism and economic institutions," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 73-96, February.
    21. Martin Rode & Sebastian Coll, 2012. "Economic freedom and growth. Which policies matter the most?," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 95-133, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Human Freedom; Personal Freedom; Economic Freedom; Social repression;
    All these keywords.

    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

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:177:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s11205-025-03561-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.